A circumstantial narrative of the campaign in Russia

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tmCtJMSTAMTIAL NABBATiyE

CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA^ /,

j^Airs 6f the battles or the mobkwa ahd iui:o«JiJu>tLAyiTE9
0OMTAnrtv«

M FAITHFUL DESCRIPtlON OF THE AFFECTING AWD

INTEItESTINQ SCENES OF WHICH THE AUTHOR

WAS AN EYE-WITNESS.

BT EUGENE LABAUMK,

Captain of the Itoyal Geographical Engin^ra Ex- Officer of the Ordnance

of Prince Eugene ; Chevalier of the Legim efffenour^ and

rfthe Irpn Crown. .Author of an Abridged

J^oryofthe Republic of Venice,

TRANSLATED FROM THE 0^ Ij^di. ; r

HARTFORD:

FUBlrsRED Bt 8lL/k& AVDRVtf

Ain> BT E. PECK ^ CO. E0CHE8TER, V. r«

nilrTBB BT SlIUBH %t VBWTOV.

1817.

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THE ;■.. V,' YOSK
PUBLIC L-IDRARY

742456

ASTOn, LtNOX ANO
TILDE N FOUNDA t IONS

R 1916 L

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PREFACE.

I RELATE that which I have seen. A witness of
the greatest disasters that ever befel a great nation ;
a spectator and an actor in every scene of this sad
and memorable expedition. I present the reader
with no fictitious narrative, aitfidly arranged, and
heightened by false coloming. The events that pas-
sed around me were daily recorded, and I now sim-
ply endeavour to communieate the impres^ons which
I then felt. It waa by the light of the burning of
Moscow, that I described th^ sa<^ of tibat unfortu-
nate city. It was on the bj^t^tts^df.the.Beresina,
that I traced the recital of that/fatal;passs^^./^^
^ans of the battles of the Mo8S^/.€l^ Bfalo-^airo**
slavitz, which accompany this i!tBD|i^//w^e'taken on
the spot, at the command ofprinc^^iit^biie/

It is scarcely possible to conceive what' difficul-
ties I had to surmount in the progress of my watk^
Compelled, like my companions in arms, to strug-
j^e with the most urgent^ necessities, pierced by the
cold, tormented with hunger, a pre/ to every accu-

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^y PREFACE.

midated horror ; uncertain at the rising of the su^
ijnrhether I should see its setting rays, and doubtful
at night, whether I should witness the morrow's
dawn ; every thought seemed concentrated in the
ardent desire to live, that I might perpetuate the
memory of what I had seen. Animated by this
irresistible feeling, J retraced, each night, the
events of the day, sitting beside a wretched fire,
under a temperature of ten or twelve degrees, and
surrounded by the dying and the dead. The knife
with which I had carved my scanty morsel of horse
flesh, wa^ einployed ip cutting; {^ rav<|i'£t qv^ s^d
a Uttle gua-powder, mixed widi some melted snow^
iathe hollow c4* my hand^ serye^ f|^ tof ixi^ wd
ink-^tanjd- ' .

I hav^ composted this work without peisoaaji iSk
IviU, and without prejudice ^ yet t muat cQ0fas%
that duiiiag the recital of the most hoirible eatec*
prise^ which ^e genius of ambitioa l^adr ever codr
ceived, I could oftep scarpdy Festrun my wdi^a-
tiou against -^e author of aU our misfortt|ne& Bnt
the re^pl.^^rj^r/^a^^ his fonaaer well e9xaed
repstflLtipi.*'4ia^^ me, and the memoiy of

th<gU^n^ iti^^r^fl^.that I had witoessed, and ifk
the honoi&'tc^'Virbu^ t had shaced, compelled trb
to spe^*'<^:ft^l£*«b^^ with moderaticMa. ai>4
fesei^ye. * * *

Having constantly hetoxQ ine the BaoumM image
of a crowd of warriors, doomed to perish, miserably
m remote deserts, I was. sustained by the h(>pe of
yend^rin^ my feeble homage^ to a courage acknow-

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PREFACE. V

lodged even by their enemies ; and to exploits the
more heroic, since their object was no longer the
safety of their country, nor even, of their lives, but
the preservation of their fame. I shall account my-
self most happy, if my reader is convinced, that in
the midst of so many disasters, our brave soldiers
were always worthy of themselves ; that they stained
not their ambient renown, and that, always formida-
ble to their enemies, they were conquered by the
elements alone.

• •JT • I • .

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emCUMSTANTIAL NABRATIVE:

CAMPAIGN IN BU8SIA.

FABT L...BOOK h

WILNA.

IF we were to led: into our aimals for die most
biflliant period of our ^017, we should find that
France had never been more powerful than after
the treaty of Tilsit Spain, under the name of an
allj, was, in reallitp, one of our pnmnees, -wftence
we were siqkptied with money, men, and ships.
Italy, wisely governed by a prince who was at once
a skilM warrior and an able politician, being sub-
ject to, and obeying the same laws, as the French
empire, enjoyed an equal share of prosperity with
omselves ; and saw with pride that her legions,
transported to the Bailie, had given proofs of the
moblest courage, in order to procure for France, th

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8 WILNA.

peace as gl<mou8 as it was beneficial. Germanyy*
alaimed by our colossal a^randizement, far from
opposing our successes, endeavoured merely to in-
sure her own existence, by a submission to all the
great changes which subverted the German consti-
tution. EngJandy th^ o^ly constant o^pcment of an
ambition so fatal to mankind, saw, in the prosperity
of Napoleon, a new caAifie^ fear to herself, and of
tenor to the continent Jealous of the lK)nour of
circumscribing thtit bpundl^s^ ^jlbitlw, she anx-
iously represented to the sovereigns of the north,
how much it was their interest to arrest the rapidly
increasing progress of our excessive power. Vain
efforts ! these sovereigns had not yet acquired the
requisite degreq pf f ottTiclian, tUal they must all be
united to crush the giant who wished to devour them.
Napoleon's passion for kif^won, suggested to him
on his return from Tilsit, the idea of declaring an
v^^$t w^ 9P Bj^M, whkb n^ ovUy tanais^d his
Imir^lfyj bui^ alten^^s ^nisji^d hi^ enemias: ii^&
tbsJpi^ Vfisjm^ Iq]? occQtsioi^af aubvertsng his piMrer^
^' w<39j$: prince nomin^y pres^ oi$er that^un^
h^ppjipewMfulftf; butu pfsrfidious miniBto-, trea^he^
tf^m towai7d \m aoui^, and imgBrte^ to^ his kiiig'
andl^^H^i^^tcNr, w r^}ity gQi^emed tike sttale wilii »
psortial. ba«id ; andrby th^ miistiabjfiet deference to th#'
§T^U.Qq]9n$iels of foii^igntif^degpadbd^tfaeiiat^
%bts h^ seemedto 1mr% usuTped. oid^ to Arag^ it in-
t^ loQ^ sui^^sbaioefuIr^i^rvitttdiEr/ Tiie orediolity^ c^the'
£iJtJ|er, mA tbeo^O^ei^on €f the son,^ alScepiomo-
tisd . hi^ <^i|iip^ A^ftvf^. ^ H& incms^ them against

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WitNA. i

each btbeij and parties were sobn forteed. The
artful Napoleon profited by the discord, which was
thus produced, to excite a civil war, and to idiidle
that flamd which was necessary for the execution of
the most unjust and abominable project, a project
which presents in the history of a civilized nation,
an example of atrocious ingratitude, unparalleled
even amongst barbarians*

Spain, notwithstanding its proximity to France,
was little known ; and the character of its inhabi*
tants was still less understood. This fatal ignorance
misled the conqueiror, and induced him to attempt
an unfortunate invasion ; the toiseries of which will,
however, be easily forgotten, when we consider that,
like the campaign of Moscow, it was the primitive
cause of those events which led to the happy de-
liverance of the world-
It does not enter into ftly plan to recapitulate an
ill fati&d aggression, which made enemies of two na-
tions equally generous, and who, always united by
a reciprocal esteem, would yet have retained the
most friendly sentiments, had it not been for the
perfidious politics of the tyrant- The struggle whicb
ensued, memorable for its obstinacy and its vicissi-
tudes, will furnish the historian with an interesting
subject, and the military man with ample matter for
meditation. I shall only briefly observe, that Provi-
dence appears to have excited in Napoleon the idea
of these two unjust wars, to convince the Spaniards
and Russians that an alliance with the vicious will

2

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Iff WiLNAv

«wavoidably prove fatal. This instrament^ whic&
the Almighty had employed to accomplish his pur-
pose, was now precipitated from error to error, ta
dhow that tyranny is a crime against the commoni>
and inalienable rights of man,, and that it may, at aH
times, be successfully opposed by those who march-
united under tke banners of justice.

Whilst Napoleon vainly endeavoured to chase the
English from the peninsiila, a new storm was gath-
ering in Germany^ Austria^ whom he had so ofte»
humbled, could not tamely submit to the disgrace-
ftil yoke under which her defeats had placed hen
The resistaiKre of the Spaniards^ and the powerful
armaments erf England, offered her a fkvourable
©pporttmity for again having recourse to arms, and
endeavoring to recover the territories which she had
lost, and that political preponderance of which she
hailiftways been sa jealous.

•^e new war against Austria only opened a new
fieid^bf *riumph to the French. Landshut, Eckmuhl
and Ratisbon,. having been attacked, with brilliant
success^ prepared the way at the end of four months^
for one of the most mejnorable victories. The field
of Wagram saw the prodigies of Austerlitz renewed,,
and secured to France the moist glorious campaign,
gind the most decisive results.

The treaty of Vienna which gave us peace^
brought several wealthy provinces under our domin-^
ion. It aggrandized Wirtemberg and Bavaria, and
seemed to promise to Poland her complete re^estab-
Ushment But that treaty, dictated by a power that

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WILNA. 11

gasped at eveiy thing, mi^, like those which pre-
ceded it, have contained the seeds of fresh conten^
tion, if the most august and most unexpected alli-
ance, had not crowned die prosperity of the fortu-
nate Napoleon. Of all the blessings which chanc6
liad bestowed upon him, that marriage was undoubt-
edly the greatest ; since it secured forever the des-
tiny of a man, who having risen from the humblest
rank in society, had now become allied to a power-
ful monarch. But seduced by a prosperity so daz-
zling, be was yet dissatisfied; and forming new,
and romantic, and impious projects, he hazarded
all that he had acquired. He wearied his good
genius, and provoked his fate. To his own folly
alone is it to be attributed, that that which was so
well calculated to cement his power, became the
<ause of his niin.

That period ought to have been esteemed the
happiest of Napoleon's life. What more could^the
wildest ambition desire ? From a private individual
lie saw himself raised to the first throne in the
world ; his reign had been one continued series of
victories ; and to compile his happiness, a son, the
object of his most ardent wishes, was born to suc-
ceed him. The people, though oppreased under
his government, became accustomed to it, and
seemed desirous to secure the crown to his family.
All the foreign princes, who were subjected to his
power, were his vassals. They maintained his
troops, and supplied him with money, to gratify his
luxury and his pleasures. In short all obeyed him^

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Nothing was wanting to make him haj^y ! nothio]^
if Ae could be happy, wha possessed not a love of
justice. To that sentiment Napoleon had ever
f>een a straqger, and, consequently, knew not either
enjoyment or repose. Agitated by a restless spirit,
anJt tormented by imgoyeraable ambition, the very
excess of hfe fortune was his ruin. Aiming at that
which it was impossible to obtain, and ignorant of
human nature, he forgot every principle of honour
and humanity — ^he forgot himself.

The sovereign qf the German empire, tired of a
resistance so Ipng fatal to his arm$, fancied for a.
moment, that be obeyed his fate, in yielding to a
pian to whom eyeiy one had submitted. He sacri-
ficed his gloiy, and even his offspring, to obtain
peace; thvis realizing those fabulous times, when
jnagnanimous princes devoted their daughters to
araease tbei wrath of some daemon, who ravaged
their country,

All seemed disposed to submit to the great chan-
ges which Napojeon had effected ; and the common
people, whose limited conceptions seldom penetrate
into the dark minds of ambitious monarchs, thought
that the surprising alliance between this man and an
archduchess, m\ist satisfy all his immoderate desires.
They also expected, that the tender feelings of a
parent, would teach him, that a throne is not so
firmly cemented by ambitious conquests, purchased
by blood and by tears, as by wise institutions, which,
making a government beloved, insure its duration.
The being never existed who possessed ampler mean3

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for promoting the happiness of mankind. Nothing
was required but justice and prudence. The nation
expected these from him, and granted him that un-
limited confidence which he afterwards so cniellj
abused. JPosterity will hesitate to decide, whether
Napoleon be more culpable on account of the
crimes which he has committed, or the good that
he might have done, but on which he bestowed not
a single thought

Instead of considering with calmness and mode-
ration, how he might best employ his vast resources,
he ruminated on projects beyond the power of man
to execute; forgetting what innumerable victim^
must be sacrificed in the vain attempt. Continual-
ly tormented by spleen and melancholy, the least
contradiction irritated him. The very idea that
there existed a nation sufficiently great and gene-
rous to despise his proposals, and resist his fatal inr
fluence, lacerated Ms bosom^ and poisoned the hap?
piest moments of bis glory.

In the hope of conquering that invincible enemy,
he vainly endeavoured to grasp the extremities of
Europe. Scarcely did he think that he had secured
him on one side, than he escaped on the other.
Infuriated at the disappointment of his chymerical
plans, he aspired at universal despotism, for no
other reason, than because a nation isolated from
the continent," and profiting by its happy situation,
had refused to submit to his intolerable yoke.

From that time he dismissed his ministers, whose
wisdom he despised. In his estiraationj talent con-i

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14 WILlifA.

ftisted only in a 'blind submission to his albsurd pre-
tensions ; and it was necessaiy for the greatest men
to become the most abject slaves. Despot over hit
people and his armies, and a slave to his own mi-
governable passions, he carried his ambitious vievrs
to the extremities of the globe, and aspired to the
empire oi the world. Misled by his rash and hastj
temper, he adopted a false line of politics, and con-
verted in the north, as he had done before in the
south, the most useful and powerful of his allies,
into a dangerous enemy.

In his senseless dreams he oveiBtepped the natu-
ral boundaries of France. He allotted to her a chi«
merical and romantic destiny, and terrified himself
with the groundless apprehension, that Russia might
place herself on the ancient throne of Constantine,
and command the two seas by which £urope is
fiurrounded. He then assumed the prophet^ pre-
dicting distant disasters to his country, and sacri^-
cing the present generation to the imcertain happi-
ness of posterity.

Blinded by an excess of prosperity, he fancied
that the neighboring powers beheld him with envy ;
and judging of others by himself, he imagined that
Russia must look with secret jealousy on the union
between the most ancient and the most modem em-
pires. Full of this idea, he pursued his plans of de«
vastation ; and desuing, as he said, that his- dynasty
might soon become the most ancient in Europe, he
endeavoured to sanction his usurpation by dethron-
ing every legitimate prince, in order to bestow their

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WILMA* 15

oowns on 1& brothers^ viboj tooefieminate to second
Mm in Ms tyranny, or rival him in his exploits, onlj
shone Uke pale satellites around an ill-boding star.

The treaty of Tilsit appeared but a truce to those
who knew Napoleon's character. Eveiy one who
compared the constantly growing power of the two
great empires, predicted an approaching rupture^
and foresaw, in their systematic plans of aggiandize*
ment, the lEutnre des^ction of the gigantic edifice
which both were erecting. The distance which
had fonnerly separated them, had likewise separated
their interest ; but the^nguests of France, having
rendered her a neighbourof Russia, every thing pre*
saged that a terrible straggle must, ere long, ensue
between those rival powers, the shock of which
would convulse the world*

For more than two years^ Russia and France had
maintained a warlike attitude ; but at length Napo^
leon having reinforced the garrison of Dantzic,
consisting of a strong bcldy of troops, and completed
the cavalry, the artillery*train, and the military equi-
pages, fcHrbore no longer to overwhelm Russia with
reproaches. Fc^getfiil that »nce the treaty of Tilsit^
he had ndt only invaded Holland and the Hanse-
towns, bot likewise the duchy pf Oldenburg, which
belonged to the sister of Alexander, he imputed to
the latter as a crime^ that he had renewed a com-
mercial intercourse with En^and

From that moment Fiance made immense prepar
tions. Numerous le^ns hastened fipom the banks
<^f the Tagus to those of the Oder;^ and the sam^

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16 wrtNA.

soldiers who, not long ago, had encamped on the
fertile plains of Lombardy, saw themselves in less
than three months, transported to the barren sands
of Poland.

Nothing, however, had yet transpired respecting
these great movements, except the famous senatus-
canstdtej"* which organized the empire into cohortes,
ham^ and arriere bans.f Thus France was on the
point of being engaged in the most bloody contest
which it had ever sustained, and one half of Europe
was marching agdinst the other, while Napoleon had
not deigned to aSbrd the least intimation of it to the
senate, nor had that body ventured to demand from
him any reason for a war, in which France was
about to exhaust her treasures and her blood.

Under thesd circumstances all eyes were turned
towards Prussia, anxious to discover which party she
would espouse. Her fortresses, and her whole terri-
tory, were occupied by our armies ; nevertheless, an
alliance with us appeared so opposite to her true po-
licy^ and so prejudicial to her interests, that, in spite
of the constraint and the subjugation in which we
held her, she long hesitated to declare heiself. At
last, to the surprise of all the world, we learned that
she had decided in our favour.J They, however,
who knew in what manner Napoleon contracted all

* Sitting of the Senate, lOth of March, 1813.

f Three classes in|o which iht men were di'nded from 25 to 60 years of
age, for the defence of the frontiers, and the coasts.

+ Treaty of alliance (24th Feb. 1812,) between his majesty tlie emperor
and king, and lus maj^esty the khig of Prussia.

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WIUfA.

a

las attiaiicedy obserired that Prusna did not dedaicl
£or us tin Beilin was pressed on all sides^ and ihi
^ike of Reggio (Oudinot) was on. the point c^ enter-
ing it as a conqueror* The king of Prussia was
shortly after dompelled io abandon his capital, and
leave the command of it to the French generals.

At tlHS time appeared another treaty of alliance^
between France and Austria, by which it was stipo-'
lat^d, that each of the two contracting powers should
furnish the other with an amdliaiy coips of thirty
thousand men, in case of attacL Napoleon, pre«
tendic^ that he was threat^oted by Russia^ claimed
and obtained the promised succour^ which was put
under the command of the Prince of Schwartzen-
be^ Thus Napoleon tyrannized aver kings, as
Robespierre tyrannized over the people. No one
could remain neutral under either. The love g[
peace was regarded as treason, and moderation con*
adered as a crime.

Inhuirierable troops traversed every part of Ger«
many, and bent their course towards the Oder.
The king of Westphalia (Jerome Bonaparte) at the
head of his guards and of two divisions, had already
crossed that river, as well as the Bavarians and Sax-
•ns. The first corps was at Stettin, the third march-
ed in that direction ; and the fourth, having arrived
at Gl(^u, replaced the Westpfaalians^ who proceed-
ed towards Warsaw.

The composition of our army ivas curious and
imposing* Were I to enumerate the different troops^
it vrouid remind my reader of the description of
Homer, when he speaks of the varbus uatkMOS who

3

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f0 WIL*A>

Ittarched to the conquest of Troy. In the month of
April the grand army consisted of eight corps of in*'
fantiy, ea^h of them containing at least three dkvis^
ions (the first had five divi^ons) and one body of cav-^
aify. To these were jmned the imperial guards, com.'
posed of about fifty thousand men ; and three great
corps of cavaky under the name of the leserve* Hie
total of our fcnrces may have amounted to three hun<^
dred thousand in&ntiy, and sixty thousand cavalry.
Moie thaaa thousand (neces of cannon, distributed
amongst the difiereht Cbrps^ constituted our artillery..
The Prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust) had long com-'
manded the five divisions, which constitiited the
first corps of the army. The second was intmsted
to the duke of Re^io (Oixdinot.) The third to the
duke of Elchingen (Ney.) The fourth, known 1^ the
name of the army of Italy j and which contained the
loyal guards, was commanded by the prince viceroy
(Eugene Beauhamois-) Prince Poniatowski, at the
head of his Poles, formed the fifth corps. The Ba*
varians, incorporated into the sixth, were under thel
orders of count Gouvion St Cyr^ The Salmons were
counted as the seventh corps, commanded by gene-
ral Regnier. The Westphalians, marching undei
the orders of their king (Jerome Bonaparle) took
rank in the army as the eigth corps. Only a skele^
ton of the ninth was formed, but it was* destined for
the duke of Belluno (Victor) ; and lastly the tenth
eorpsj commanded bjr marshal the duke of Taren**
turn, was composed of Prussians under gpneral
Grawert, and included no French, except the divis-^
ion of general Grandjean.

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. l¥ILlfA. 19

The Russian anny opposed to us, was divide^
into tvro corps, under the denomination of first and
second army of the west; the one ccHnmanded by
general Barclay de ToUy, and the other by prince
Sagration. The number of divisions amounted to
forty-seven, amongst which ei^t consisted of caval-
ry. The emperor Alexander, who^on the 26th ,<^
April, arrived at Wilna with ail his staff, had been
long prepared to repel our attacks. But those who
had stucUed our system /of war^ strenuously advised
that monarch not to hazard a battle, being well
assured that Napoleon's ambition would lead him
into savage countries which^ during the rigour of
winter, would become the grave of his armies.

Although Prussia had declared fer us, prudence
required that we should mji^trust an alliance exacted
by force. The Fren^ garrisons in the different for-
liied places guarded them with the utmost care,
ps^cularly Glogau, where the fourth corps was
assembled. Its vicinity to Breslau, whither ihe
king of Prussia had retired with the remainder of
his troops, naturally awakened our fears, and indu-
ced the governor to take every precaution against a
coup de nrnn, which might haye proved fatal to the
enterpria^es of France^

The fourth corps, which arrived from Italy, under
the denomination of the army of observatiaUj seem-
ed, from its tide, to be destmed alternately to
advance in front of the grand army, and to observe
its flanks, and lastly, to rejoin it when great events
required its ^asistance. Having h^4 the honour to

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belong to tliis cotps, I shall more fiarticidailj 4e*
scribe its expldit? dimng thi* memorable campaigiL
Its operatioiis^ when separated fiiom the grand
army, were more intereatmg than those of anj other
porps, and it was generally united to the main bodj
whan circumstances induced Napoleon to concmiv
tl«tte his forces.

The vicerby (£ugene Beauharnois) before he was
appointed to the fourth corps, which had in the in-^
terim been under the ordets of the duke of Abiantes
(Junot) was called to Paris, where his frequent con^
ferences with the emperor led to the belief that he
was desAined tc> higher functions than those which
attached to the command <^ one corps of the army.
The rumour had long been spread that ^apoleon^
desirous of terminating in person the Spanish war,
had announced in council that he intended to con-:
jide the government of the empire to a young prince,
if circumstances should oblige him to absent him-
self from the capital. But these brilliant hopes,
which since the repudiation of his mother seemed
to have no foun^tion, were soon destroyed. The
viceroy, having received hi§ instructions seven or
eight days after his arrival in Paris, todc the road to
Poland, and arrived at Glogau on the l^h of May.

While he remained at Glogau, he reviewed the
troops which had been placed under his orders, and
was particularly pleased with the fine appearance of
die fifteenth divi^ion^ conskting solely of Italians,
an4 amounting to thirteen thousand men. The sol-
diery who composed it were so excellently disci-

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WUUfA. 21

plmed tittt general Pino, tfapu^fintcnptamofthe
toyal guards, deemed itan honor to conuoMuid thent

The fourth corps Kas to assemble at Flock. The
Bararian armj was there ahready ; and the prince
rkeroj. airived in this town by way of Posen^ a few
days b^ie his army. He employed this time in re-
connoitering the banks of the Narew, and in uniting
^le lines of defence formed by this river, with those
of the lakes which extend fimn Angerbui^ to Joai^
nisburg. His highnes particularly examined tiie
fortress of Modlin, whither the king of Westphalia
had also proceeded. The conference between these
pnnces appeared to indicate that the banks of the
Bug and of the Naiew would be the theatre of war.
But a few days afterwards, all eyes were directed
towards the emperor, who had arrived at Thorn.
The viceroy went to pay his reacts to him, and
on his return made the necessary dispositions to ef*
feet a movement on the fourth of June.

On that day our corps marched for Soldaii, which
it reached on the 6th. The troops were allowed a
halt of two days, which were employed in construe*
ting ovens for the use of the army. We then march**
ed to Villemberg, where we likewise remained two
days ; and three days afterwards we arrived at Ras-
tembourg, a neat little town surrounded by lakes.
It ajQTorded a valuable supply of provisions to the
anny, beis^ the largest and most populous town we
had passed through since our departure from Glogau.
From Rai^embourg we marched to Lotzen, and
afterwards tp Oletzko, the last town in East-Prussia.

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SB WILN4*

Two leagaes further on we entered Poland^ and
moD perceived the striking difference between these
two countries. In the one the houses are clean and
well built ; in the other, the j are dirty and of a
clumsy construction. The inhabitants of the former
are civil and hospitable ; those of the latter con«-
^isted chiefly of filthy and disgusting Jews. Many
of the petty seigneurs were tooindi^nt to maintaiB
the pioper splendour of their rank : but the higher
orders of the nobility are brave, magnificent, and
generous. Unsullied honour and ardent patriotism
•will ever constitute them true heroes. The peas-
antry Qxe few in number, and this defect in the
population, joined to the banenness of the soil, ac-
counts for the uncultivated state of the country.
The sandy plains of Poland, planted only with bad
xye^ seemed doomed to lasting sterility.

We arrived at Kalwary, a considerate town filled
with Jews. AtMarienpol we found a simUar pec-
ulation. Tired of beholding the numbers, and the
disgusting appearance of these people, we used to
say that Poland was but another Judea, in which a
Polonese was rarely to be seen.

During this march, Napoleon left Thom, and
Tinted the fortress of Danlzic, which his thirst for
dominion made him regard as one of the most im-
portant in his empire. Thence he went to Osterode,
and passed rapidly through the towns of Leipstadt
and Kreutzbourg, in the neighborhood of Heilsberg,
Eylau, and Friedland, wliich had been the theatre of
his greatest miUtajy exploits. On his arrivdl at

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WtLNl. St

Komo^hergj he made er^ preparation for his
great enterprise. He reviewed numerous divisicHia^
visited the fortress of PilIaU| and a few da^ after^
wardsy marching with the centre of his army Iter-
crsed the Pregel as far as Gumbinrien.

Napoleon hoped to intimidate Russia by his pre*
parations, and to compel herto submit to his dictates^
while he disregarded eveiy thing which could possi*
biy lead to a friendly understanding with Russia, or
to the maintenance of peace. Russia, with aa
excess of moderation, seldom to be met mih id
great powers, consented that France should retain a
garrison in Dantzic ; but she required, and with jus*
tice, the evacuation of Prussia, that a country unoc*
cupiedby the troops of either power mi^t be left
between these two great empires. These wise and
moderate conditions were csdled by Napoleon, arrih'
gant and altogether extraordinary demands !* and on
the formal refusal of Russia to listen to the embassy
of count Lauriston without these preliminaries,
Napoleon was absolutely enraged and exclaimed,
in a tone of phrenzy which the slightest contradic-
tion always excited^ ^^ The vanquished assume the
tone of conquerors. A fataUty involves them ; lei
their destinies be fulfiUed**^ Leaving Gumbinnen
that veiy instant, he went to Wilkowiski, 22d of
June, 1812, and ismed the following proclamation
in his general orders >—

*^ Soldiers,

The second Polish war is begun. The first ter-
minated at Friedland and at Tilsit At Tilsit, Rus-

* Second bolUtin of the fgtmi army.

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riavotred an eternal dUaxice with Fiance, and war
writh En^iand. She now breaks her rows, and
refitaes to give any explanation of her strai^ con^
dud;, until the Fieneb eagles bare repassed tbs
Rhine and left our allies at her mercy.

^^ Russia is hurried away by a fatality ! Her des-
tinies wiU be fiilfilled. Does she think us degene-
rated ? Are we no more the soldiers who fiofught at
Austeriits^ ? ^e places us between dishonour and
wax. Our ehoioe cannot be difficult Let us then
mardi forward. Let us cross the Niemen, and
cany the war into her ccmntiy* This second Pblish
war will be as ^orious im the French arms as the
fir^ has been ; but the peace we s^all conclude^
wffl carry with it its own guarantee, and will termi--
tiate the fatal influence which Russia, for fifty yeais
past, has exercised in Europe."

Uns proclamation reached us at Kalwary. Un**
becodiing real greatness, it was only remarkable for
Its excessive boasting, and for the prophetic tone of
its contents : yet, although it was but a monotonous
repetition of the same ideas so often eiq)ressed, it ex-
cited the ardour of our soldiers, alwa3rs ready to lis-
ten to any thing flattering to their courage. Elated
with the idea of treading on Russian ground, they
proudly contemplated the commencement of the
second Polish war, and were eager to leave behind
them a river at which they had closed their victori-
ous career, at the termination of the first war. The
word Niemen inflamed their imagination. They
burned to pass it : and this desire was the more nat^

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WILNA. 26

tural, as, independent of the spirit of conquest, the
miserable state of Poland eveiy daj augmented our
suiSerings and privalions. To silence our complaints,
the territory of Russia always was held out to us
as the promised land.

The Russian army opposed to ours, was com-
posed of six divisions. The first, twenty thousand
strong, and commanded by the prince of Witt-
genstein, occupied Rossiena. and Ke'idanou'i. The
second corps, consisting likewise of twenty thousand
men under the orders of general Bagawout, guarded
Kowfio. The third, consbting of twenty-four thou-
sand men, under general Schomoaloff, was posted at
New-Troki. The fourth corps, commanded by
general TutschkoflF, was stationed between New-
Troki and Lida. These four divisions together with
the guards, formed what the Russians called, the
First Army of the West. The second army compri-
sed the fifth corps, amounting to forty thousand men,
and the sixth corps, called that of Doctorow, of
eighteen thousand men. This second army, com-
manded by Prince Bagration, was encamped at
Grodno, Lida, and throughout Wolhynia. General
Markoif organized in this province, the ninth and
fifteenth divisions, which were to form the seveoth
corps, and which acted in the sequel under the or-
ders of general Tomazow, against the duchy of War-
saw.

Such was the position of the Russians beyond
the Niemen, when the king of Naples (Murat) who
aoQimaQded our cavalry, established his head-quar-

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2G WILNA.

ters within two leagues on this side of the river, (23d
June.) He had with him the two corps of cavalry,
commanded by generals Nansouty and Montbrun,
each composed of three divisions. The first corps
took post at the opening of the great forest of PU^-
wisky. The second corps and the guards marched
in the rear. The third, fourth,^ and sixth coips, ad-
vanced by Marieiipol, and marched at a day's dis-
tance from each other. The king of Westphalia^
with the fifth, seventh and eighth corps, directed his
march to GrodnOy up the Narewy and facing the ar-
my of Prince Bagrgltiori.

The pontoons under the orders of general Ebl^
arrived the same day at the Niemen. Napoleon^
disguised as a private Polish soldier, and in com-
pany with the general of the engineers Haxo, theii
visited the line of Ihe Niemen, and from the heights
which command Kowno, discovered the most ad-
vantageous point. About eight o'clock at night, the '
array was put in motion. Three light companies of
the division of Morand (first division of the first corps)
passed the Niemen, and protected the construc-
tion of tfiree bridges^ which were thrown across the
river.

At day-break, that is to say, about one o'clock in
the morning, we were close to Kowno. General Pa-^
jol having^pushed forward the advanced guard, occu-
pied the town with one battalion and drove before
him the enemy's cavalry, which retired as we advan-
ced. On the 24th and 25th, the army continued to
cross the river at the three bridges. In the meantwn^

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WILNA. 27

Napoleon, having arrived at Kowno, caused another
hridge to be thrown across the Wilna, near that
iown ; whUe the king of Naples (Murat) marched
towards Zismori^ and the marshals, prince of Eck-
muhl (Davoust) and duke of Elchingen (Ney) went
the one to Rounichichki, sxkd the other to Konnelov^
The following day (27th June) our light cavahy
was within ten leagues of Wilngu The day after,
about two o'clock in the morning, the king of Naples
continued his march, supported by tlie division of
cavalry of general Braycrcs, and by the first corps.
The Russians fell back on.all sides behind the WiUa,
after burning" the bridge and their magazines. A
deputation consisting of the principal inhabitants of
Wilna, now delivered to Napqleon the keys of the
town. He entered about noon, and proceeded im-
mediately to the advanced posts of general Bruyires,
to ascertain the direction in wliich the enemy had
retreated. They were pursued on the left of the
Wilia, when Octave do Segur, captain of hussars,
was -wounded and taken prisoner in a charge of cav-
alry. This distinguished officei* was the first in this
campg^gn, who fell into the hands of the Russians.
The point which Napoieon had chosen to pass the
Niemen was difficult to defend, Kowno being com-
manded by a high mountain on our side, which
completeljioverhung the town. But if tliis position
had been even less advantageous to us, it was not
the intention of the Russians to oppose our first
jefTorts. It is said that the emperor Alexander had
made every preparation to dispute the passage of the
Niemeii ; but that at the moment at which the at*

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$8 WILNA.

tack was to have commenced, general Barclay dc
Tolly, throwing himself at the feet of his master,
entreated him not to combat a formidable army
which nothing could resist ; adding that Napoleon
^Quld be suffered to pass like a torrent, keeping
their forces unbroken in reserve, to be employed
against him^ when famine and the inclemency of
the season had thinned his ranks. I will not vouch
for the authenticity of this anecdote : but it will not
be thought improbable when it is recollected that
the emperor Alexander, after having remained six
weeks at Wilna, inspecting his armies and recon-
noitefing th-e principal points which were capable of
defence, suddenly abandoned this line without fight-
jng, and ordered ^ retreat across the Dwina and the
Nieper.

On our arrival at Wilna we read the proclama-
tion which the emperor of Russia had issued when
he learned that the French troops had passed the
Niemen. It paints so truly the magnanimity and
the equity of Alexander, that pn comparing it with
the proclamation of Napoleon published at Wilko-
wiski, and breathing a spirit of unbounded arro-
gance and injustice, the reader may obtain a perfect
knowledge of the characters of these two conquerors,
on whom the eyes of the world were then fi^ed. U
was thus worded : —

' mhaj the ^tk ofJune^ 1812-
^ We had long observed, on the part of the em-
peror of the French, the most hostile proceedings
towards Russia ; but we had always hoped to aver^

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WILNA. 29

them by conciliatory and pacific measures. At
length, experiencing a continued renewal of direct
and evident aggression, notwithstanding our earnest
desire to .maintain tranquillity, we were compelled
to complete and to assemble our armies. But even
then we flattered ourselves that a reconciliation
might be produced while we remained on the fron-
tiers of our empire, and, without violating one prin-
ciple of peace, were prepared only to act in our
own defence. All these conciliatoiy and pacific
measures could not preserve the tranquillity which
we desired. The emperoi of the French, by sud*
denly attacking our army at Kowno, has been the
first to declare w^ar. As nothing, therefore, could
inspire him with those friendly sentiments which
possessed our bosoms, we have no choice but to
oppose our forces to those of the enemy, invoking
the aid of the Almighty, the witness and the defen-
der of the truth. It is unnecessary for me to recall
to the minds of the generals, the ofiicers,or the sol-
diers, their duty and their bmvery. The blood of
the valiant Sclavonians flows in their veins. Warri-
ors ! you defend your rehgion^ your country, and
your liberty ! I am with you. God is against the
aggressor.

(Signed) Alexander.*

/— '

\Vhile the whole of our army was cbncentrated
near Wilna, the second Russiaa corps, under gener-
al Bagawout, effected its retreat across the Dwina.
Prince Wittgenstein likewise was retreating to Wil-
koirier, since the duke of Reggio (Oudinot) by

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so WILNA.

marching on Janow and Chatoui, had forced him to
abandon Samogitia. On the 28th they met neat
DeveltDT«K A smart cannonade commenced ; but
prince Wittgenstein being driven from his position,
and purBued by our troops as far as the Dwina, pass-
ed the bridge thrown over this river with so much
piecipitation, that he had not time to burn it.

The Russians being repulsc^d beyond the river,
the fifth, seventh, and eighth corps, under the orders
of prince Poniatowski, and the king of Westphalia
(Jerome Bonaparte) took possession of Grodno, and
closely pressed the second army of the west, under
prince Bagration. Intrenched, however, in a strong
position, he resisted aU their attacks ; and by a hap-'
py employment of his numerous corps of Cossacks,
commanded by the Hetman Platoff, he would, no
doubt, have long defended the provinces confided
to hiin, if, after the ev?LCuation of Wilna, he had not
been ordered to join general Barclay de Tolly.
Rince Eckmuhl (Davoust) was instsmtly detached
from oiu centre, to occupy the road to Minsk, and
prevent their junction.

On tte 29th of June, the fourth corps, which had
hitherto remained in observation behind the Nie-
men, came in si^t of this long desired river. On
^udfring at Pilony, the place appointed for our pas-
sage, we found fhe viceroy, the duke of Abrantes
(Junot) and all the staff, who, notwithstanding, the
rainy weather, were busy in constructing abridge.
The artillery of the royal guards was posted on an
eminence commanding the opposite shore. This
was a wise, but useless precaution ; for, on recon-

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>

WILNA. 31

qokeiii^ beyond the Niemen, we learned that eveiy
thing was perfectly tranquil on that side.

We now dismissed all apprehension with regard
to the success of our passage, for an atd-de-camp of
the viceroy, sent with a message to Napoleon, had
informed us, that our troops, after having passed the
defile from Kowno to Roiunchichki, wilhout opposi-
tion, were arrived at Zismori ; that even the posi* • i
tions between Rouikontoui and Wilna had been but
slightly defended by the Russians ; and that having,
moreover constmcted no redoubts on the heights,
within two leagues of this town, the emperor had
entered it on the 28th instant, preceded by the Po-
lish Uhlans of the eighth regiment, commanded by
prince RadziviJ. The report of this officer men-
tioned, that the suburbs had suffered a little from
the rapacity of our soldiers, but order having been
speedily re-established, every thing returned to its
natural course. He likewise added, that this great
and populous town afforded ample supplies for the
array, and was favourably disposed towards the viewa
of Napoleon.

The following day, the thirteenth and fourteenth
divisions, under generals Delzons and Broussier,
quietly effected their passage ; and the day after (1st
July) the royal guards, followed by the division of
Pino, effected theirs. Thus all the Italian troops
passed the Niemen in one body, in presence of their
viceroy. They expressed their sense of this honour
by spontaneous acclamations ; and the prince must,
in his timi, have felt great satisfaction at beholding
|||e soldiers whom he had raised, marching undis^

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32 WILNA.

mayedinto an enemy's countiy, and at a distance of
six hiindi-ed leagues from their native soil, preserving
the same discipline and the same fine appearance,
as if manoeuvering in front of his palace.

Scarcely had we reached the <^posite shore when
we seemed to breathe a new sdr. However, the
roads were dreadfully bad, the forests gloomy, and
the villages completely deserted ; but the imagina-*
tion, inflamed by a spirit of conquest, was enchanted
with every thing that it saw, and cherished illusions
which were but too soon destroyed.

In eflFect, our short stay at Pilony, whfle the rain
beat tempestuously, was marked by such extraordina-
ry disaster, that any man, without being supersti-
tious, would have regarded them as the presage
of our future misfortunes. In this wretched village,
the viceroy himself had no house to shelter him ;
we were heaped upon one another under some
wretched sheds, or exposed to all the inclemencies
of the weather. An extreme scarcity made us an-
ticipate the horrors of famine. The rain fell in tor-
rents, and overwjielmed both men and horses.
The first escaped, but the badness of the roads
completed the destruction of the latter. They
were seen dropping by hundreds in the environs of
Pilony. The road was covered with dead horses,
overturned waggons and scattered baggage. It
was in the month of July, that we suflFered thus
firom cold, and rain, and hunger. So many ca-
lamities excited in us sad forebodings of the future
and every one began to dread the event of an
enterprise the commencement of which was sm

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di3a3traii{i; M the sua ce-appeared od the hoxiatoii^
tjhe clouds di^peised^ our feajca were scattered mtl^
ikiWif imd fioiQ^ that moqaei^t wq thpug^t that thc]
fine fleasoa would last forever.

After a marph of two houi9 through maish;
poimdj we airived at the town of Kroni (1st July)
in which the chateau and ^U the houses are built of
wood. I make this obsenration here, because most
of the Tillages in Russia are thus constructed*
Whenever I fii^d them otherwise I shall remark it.
We £oimd some brand/ in Kroni, which the soldiei9
seized with great avidity. This place not being
inhabited by any Jews, the houses were all desert-
ed, which convinced uis that the enemy, in order tp
ruin the countiy through which we were to pass^
and deprive us of ali means of subsistence, had
carried along with them the inhabitants and the
cattle.

The next day (2d July) we received orders to
march to Zismori, to regain the great road which
the emperor had taken. Arrived in this large town,
we found only^ome Jews, still overwhelmed with
terror at the horrible tumult which the passage of
our trppps had occasioned. The jBrst orders were
Xo halt here^ but on. the arrival pf the viceroy, the
^taff continued Jtheir route to Melangani, leaving
the division of Pino at Zismori, and those of
generals Delzons and Broussier in the environs of
Stra&ounou .

The following day (3d July) we proceeded to Ri-
contoui, a miserable village, vrith a little chateau built
.^f wood on the left, and on the right, a church erect-

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34 • WILNA.

ed on an eminence. The prince did not stop here,
but took up his quarters at a chateau placed near the
branching off of the cross-road leading to New-Troki.

Our corps had pleased itself with the hope, that it
was destined for Wilna. Sadly was it disappointed,
when on the morrow (July 4th) our advanced-guard
took a direction towards New-Troki. Every one
complained of the change in our route. They said
that a fatality attached to our corps ; that hairass-
ed with fatigue, we were suddei^y and unneces-
sarily prevented from entering a town where we
had expected to repose ourselves after our long and
tedious march. Our commanders endeavored to
console us for this disappointment, by assuring us
that we should certainly visit Witepsk and Smo-
lensko, two towns which would soon make us foi^et
Wilna.

After four tedious hours, during which we had
trversed nothing but forests and miry foot-paths,
we arrived near New-Troki, situated on an emi-
nence and surrounded by lakes. This delightful
place formed a striking contrast with the road we
had just quitted, and every one admired its fine
situation, and the charming effect which was pro-
duced by a large convent ,on the summit of a
mountain that overlooked the town. Others were
struck with the wild appearance of the impenetra-
ble forests, and the clearness of the waters, which
are said never to freeze. They who had acquired
any taste for the beauties of nature, were never
tired of admiring this romantic spot. In the

middle of the lake was an old nuned castle, whose^

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WILNA. 35

dai&ened walls projected on one side over the sur-
face of the water, and on the other seemed to touch
the gilded horizon.

Troki appeared at first a delightful spot, but the
illusion ceased the moment we entered it We had
scarcely approached the first houses, when a crowd
of Jews, followed by women, children, and old men
with their besQrds reaching to their girdles, threw
themselves at our feet, and implored us to deliver
tiiem fifom the rapacity of the soldiers, who plunder-
ed and destroyed every thing which fell into their
power. We could grant them nothing but ourpity^
The town in which we were quartered had no mag-
azines, and our soldiers having been long deprived
of their rations, subsisted now only on pillage. This
caused the greatest confusion. And the fatad want
of discipline which it produced was the more perni-
cious, as it is an infdlible sign of the approachiiig
ruin of an army.

The houses of the Russians at Troki, had been
^ deprived of their furniture by the inhabitants,
■who had carried every thing away with them in
their flight ; and the houses of the Jews, which were
disgustingly dirty, had been pillaged by the soldiers.
Thus an abode, which we had expected to find sq
agreeable, was, in the highest degree, unpleasant
and uncomfortable. We had not even straw to
sleep upon ; and the forage for the horses was prp-
curedfrom a distance of nearly four leagues.

As it was probable that we should remain some
days at Troki, the emperor having halted at Wilna,
the viceroy went to him, and they had some long

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36 WILNA,

cohferences tojgether. Several officers also obtain-
•ed leave to go there, and had an opporlunitjr of
witnessing the artifices to which Napoledn resorted
to ensure his conquest. Be excited the enthusiasm
of the people by the most magnificeiit promises,
and obtained from them the grealtest sacrifices*
The nobles also exerted themselves to the utmost
of their power in promoting thie views of the -ctti-
queror. By his means, ihey hoped to fenstire
the independence ol Poland; and to restore to
their countiy the glory which ^she had possessed
•in the times of the JageBons, flie CaSsimirs, and fShe
Sobieskies.

The Sight of the Polish standards, floating on ftte

^wdls of the ancient capital of the dukes of Lithua-

Hiia, excited the enthusiaism of all the inhabitants,

and recalled (he most pleasing and bnlliant recede

''lections to flie ntinds of those who cherished the

memory of the ancient glory of their beloved coun-

•try. Nothing, howcrer, more fordbly reminded

'them of their former greatness, than to meetagsdn

o» the borders of the Wilia, (hose warriors who had

"devoted the time of their exile to immortalize the

•Polish name on the banks of the Nile, the Tiber,

^ (he Tagus, and the Danube, The air was rent with

^ joyful acclamations. Crowds every where followed

^ their steps. All wished to see them, to engrave on

"their hearts the image of their brave compatriots ;

and all* glowed with the noble desire of marching

"Under the same banners.

Napoleon, having given audience to the whole
body of the university, questioned the principal on

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9ramu 89

ib^jiilksMt biMichaitfaBciettce tvludi were tau^
in that celebiateA laeMatution. fie afiemeards rer
orgasis^ the ^oivil admarastration 4£ the lovvn,
4<ftiic^h Iiftd4)eea Joompletdj subverted logr iIk ie*-
pftM«« ^f 4lie duef functienanes, and by Ibe Aobb <if
aSi «&e 1m^ -and «e^stei8 Ihat {belonged io Ihe
M^c^e^i^^ <if >theqdai:e« .Ailer:&e esan^e of France
he^livided theiniEaded prodnceB into different jdifr-
tricts, nominatisig nspectorB, jsecei^tere, xommiaaa-
Tiea ctf >pdlioe,:and fibove adl^intendaDts to isHulitate
ffae payment lof ius sumbeitless JiequisHions. Butdie
pfincipaUj endeavoured^ to stimulate ithe liithiiam-
ans to ms&e levies en masse, for the formation of
fiew corps. -He offered arms to all >the*peasaiita vvfao
*frefe inclined ^to revolt against their masten ; and
^Mmipe^^as at'^ tXHmaencement of oiif revolution^
to cause advil war ^between the people and the
nobility.

These projects certainly caused some sensation

iathe city ^bevet^ie^mperor commanded ; but, in

tbe^towns and die country, nothing was produced

'feivoucable to the projected revolution. Napoleon,

^hewever^ continued to wvile the Lithuanians to as-

^ist^nm ; mid to impose on them^ he endeavoured to

-astonish the vulgar. He spoke with equal fluency,

'and at the same audience, of the public spectacles,

^nd'of religion, of war, and of the arts. He was

^seenon hoiseback at all hours of the day ; and afte

having superintended the erection of some new

bridge or fortification, he immediately entered his

cabinet, and showed himself perfectly master of the

most complicated scheme of politics or finance:

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38 WILNA.

and often he affected to assist at a ball or a conc^
on the eve of the most important battle.

The commission which was formed for the gene-'
ral administration of all Lithuania, consisted, at
first, of only five members : but Napoleon added ta
their number in proportion as his partisans increas-
ed. The day on which that commission was insti-
tuted, three p'oclamations were instituted. The
first which was addressed to the people, announced
the installation of the provisional government of
Lithuania, and enforced the gratitude which was due
to him who had delivered Poland firom the grasp
of its oppressors. The next exhorted the clergy to
second the zeal of the nation, and to obtain, by their
fervent prayers, the favour of Almighty God. The
third, the object of which was to recall the Lithua-
nians who were in the service of Russia, contained
the followinjg words :—

* FOLANDERS,

* You are under Russian banners. It was per-
mitted you to serve that power while you had no
longer a country of your own. But all is now
changed. Poland is newly created. You must
conibat for her complete re-establishment, and com-
pel the Russians to acknowledge those rights of
which you had been despoiled by injustice and usur-
pation. The general confederation of Poland and
Lithuania, recalls every Polander, from, the Russian
service. Generals of Poland, officers and soldiers !
listen to the voice of your country. Abandon the
standards of your oppressors. Hasten and range

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. WILNA. 59'

jotirselres under the eagle of the Jagellons, the
Casimirs and the Sobieskies ! Your countiy requires it
of you. Honour and religion equally command it**

The committee of the government established at
Wilna, which lent itself to the views of Napoleon,
merely to lighten those calamities, which the horrors
<^the war had brought on the people, was indefati-
gably zealous in every thing which could promote
the interest of the administration. The department
of Wilna was aheady formed, and the conquered
temtory was divided into eleven sub-districts.
That organization, apparently advantageous, produ-
ced, however, no kind of benefit. The country was
pillaged, the villages deserted, and all the peasants
fled into the woods. We saw only a few miserable
Jews, covered with rags, who from a spirit of avarice,
chose rather to expose themselves to the insults of
our soldiers, than abandon their infectious habita-
tions. In short, to give some faint idea of the dis-
order which prevailed in the midst of this pretended
organization, I shall only mention, that when the
sub-prefect of New-Troki came from Wilna, to take
possession of his government, he was stopped by our
troops, and plundered of every thing. Even his own
escort robbed him of his provisions and clothes ;
atid at length he arrived on foot, in a condition so
wretched, that every one regarded as a spy the man
who was destined to be our first administrator.

Thus the brilliant hopes with which the Poland-
ers had at first flattered themselves, began to fade,

* See Lithuanijui Courier, July 7, 1812.

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40 WHJ^'A*

when k Wli» fitercehrtdi, that our chirf was actuated
"Solely by the pueiite amlHtion of pkidog a m^
twwn on his head ; mid, that whfle he was uaabla
to coiis(didate any thtog he talked incessaatly of
conquering immense provinces, and of subjectii^
to the same laws and the same seeptre^ countries^
which differed so widely in their customs and their
climates. Blind to the want of disci{4ine which
prevailed in his army, he occasioned the ruin of the
rich, and the desrpair of the poor ; and reduced the
Lithuanians to consider those as their greatest ag«
gressors, who had promised to become their deliv-
erers. He thus exposed us to the hi^?ed of the
people ; and made us the first and the sad4^
victims of his tyranny.

While this happened at Wilna, Warsaw mi^
have exhibited the sublimest spectacle, if she had
not been under the baneful influence of a man who
trifled with the fate of nations ; and whose plans,
never the offspring of mature reflection, were always
frustrated, when their execution required calmnes§^
and prudence* The unhappy Pcdanders, relying on
his flattering promises, assembled in their capital
(June 28), and formed a diet. The committee di-
gested an eloquent report, in which the orator stated
the importance of the work which had been entrust-
ed to their care. He reminded his auditors, in an
energetic manner, that Poland, placed in the centre
of Europe, had formerly been a distinguished empire,
mistress of a country extensive and fertile, and
equally celebrated for her valour and her refine-
ments ; that for many centuries, she had with unwea-

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WILNA.' 41

lied courage, repulsed from her borders,- those bar-
barous tribes, who attempted in vain to subjugate
the cirilized world ; that the honour of filling their
throne had ever beeri an object of universal desire ;
and that if some little divisions had arisen among
themselves, thej had only obsctdred for a short time
their own horizon, without carrying the tempes^
abroad. He enumerated at length all that their be-
loved country had suffered from the ambitt<yi. of
Russia, who had outraged a powerful nation by fre-
quent dismemberments. He dwelt particularly on
the last period when Poland was annihilated by a
triple partition, and Warsaw heard, amidst the shouts
of a ferocious conqueror, the lamentable cries of the
inhabitants of Praga, given, without mercy, to the
;9Word and to the /lames. He showed that Russia^
continually trampling upon Poland, gradually ap-
proached nearer to Germany, and already aspired at
her conquest; and, finally, he demonstrated that
such a fatal superiority of power, must ultimatel||r dc<-
6troy the rights of every nation, and subject the yvhoy
world to its empire.

After this rapid exposition of facts, the speaker
made a less animated, but not a less judicious, enu-
meration of the weighty reasons wliich ought to
unite Poland to France. ^ Europe,' said he, ' re-
quires some rest after twenty-five years of violent
notation. Her system will remain incomplete, nor
will the reward of her struggles and her blood be se-
cure as long as the regions of the north are per-
mitted to vomit forth those hordes, to the true char-
acter, of which it becomes us to be no longer blind*

6

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4^ V^ILNA.

They ate no more those whom necessity alone for-*^
ced to quit their savage abodes, and to seek in other
lands the comforts which their own inhospitable
climate denied. A blind insrtinct once served them
kistead of the oxts which civilize or defend other
countries- But now the' refinements of polished
nations are united to the barbarism of former times*
The Russian has supplicated from the European^
and he has now learned from him att the arts of
attack and defence, an4 he has made them the in-
stmments of desolation and destruction. He iB^
m some respects the equal of the European, and he
may soon bfecome his master. In Russia, supeistt-
tious and submissive slaves uhliesitatingly obey ther
orders of a government to whom every outrage iSr^
ikmiHar. For a century past they have been busily
employed in underminihg all those banks which
fiave restrained a torrent that threatens destnictioa
to the world. Hdw often have they overflowed
them, urged either by their own- ambition, or invited
by imprudent princes to whom they brought slavery
instead of assistance. Russia, in the course of fifty
years, hais ^enty times overwhelmed the south of
Europe with her arms. The empire of Constantino-
ple is aftnost stibvertedy and her crescent shorn of
half its splendour.?

Animated by his subject he thus continued : —
* Henceforth the children of the Piasts and the Ja--
gellons will be proud to bear a name which was
iJie glory of their ancestors ; a name at which they
grew pale, whom fraud and injustice, have for a
shc»t time made our masters: Let us not daubt

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iVlLKA* 43

^at this country once so rich in heroes, will recover
dll her vronted gloiy. She will produce new Sigb-
mpnds, and new Sobieskies. She will shine with
more brilliant and purer lustre ; and surrounding
nations compelled to do us justice, will acknowl*
edge that nothing was wanting in Poland for the
growth iOf every virtue, but the cultivation of th^
soil by the free and unfettered hands of her own
children.'

Then addressing the venerable old man,* who,
from his services and his virtues, presided at the as-
sembly, he concluded with the following beautiful
apostrophe : — ^ Nestor of the polish patriots, whea
you left them, you carried with you the gods, which
had escaped the overthrow of your country. They
return to it to-day, to receive eternal adoration ; and
to dwell in it as in a temple, around which the
whole nation, instructed by their misfortunes, and
awakened to vigilance by the surprises from which
they have suffered, will not cease to maintain a coth
stant guard ; which they will enrich with every vir-
tue that has adorned the Polish character, and which
they pledge themselves to defend at the ha^sard of
their lives.'

After this harrai^e the wator submitted another
report to the diet, in which he explained the motives
that had induced the committe to draw up the act
of confederation ; declaring that it was the wish of
the nation to offer the crown to the king of Saxony ^
?vbo, too wise and too virtuous to object, would

* Prince C^nrtoryskiy grsod manhid at the diet. *

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44 WILNA.

condescend they hoped, to accept it, and unite
with Divine Providence in restoring the arms of
Lidiuania to their escutcheon, and in spreading
through the fertile countries of Wolhynia, and the
extensive plains of Podohaand the Ukrine, the cheer-
ing sounds of, Long live Poland! Long live our
country !

The committe then produced the act of confed-
eration, the chief articles of which consisted, in
uniting eveiy part of ancient Poland, in the forma-
tipn of the new kingdom : in recalling the Poland-
ers from the Russian service ; and lastly in sending
a deputation to the emperor Napoleon, soliciting
him to extend his powerful protection over the cradle
of Polish liberty.

The duputation was admitted to Napoleon the
night before hi$ departure from Wilna. They sub-
mitted to him tiie act of confederation, of which we
have just spoken. The conqueror gave them eva-
sive promises. Perhaps he was offended that the
noble Polish nation had not thrown itself at his feet,
to obtain the honour of becoming a part of the great
empire. The liberty which they demanded, appear-
ed to disquiet and to surprise him. He feared that
the assembly which he had convoked, and which
seemed now so willing to second his views, might,
hereafter prove less submissive to his wishes. It is
the peculiar character of tyrants, to be suspicious
even when they are doing good ; to take umbrage
at the objects of their own protection ; and to be
alanned at the independence of others even if it has
been their own work. Napoleon, therefore^^ made

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UVILSA. 45

no decisire promises, but exacted, as preliminares,
enormous sacrifices, and a devotion to his interest,
with which the Polanders could not comply, with-
out putting to the hazard their hopes of future hap-
piness. He demanded that the provinces subjected
to Russia, should declare themselves against her,
even before his arrival, and that Gallicia should
form no part of the confederation, because he had
guaranteed to Austria the integrity of her states.

If all these extensive projects had been conceived
by a prudent head, more anxious for the welfare of
mankind, than the gratification of its own ambition,
there is no doubt that, although gigantic, they
might have been realized. Napoleon had attained
so high a degree of power, that it was not necessary
for him to resort to war to accomplish any purpose.
By a policy prudent, skilful, and, above all, concil-
iatory, he might have made more lasting, and even
more extensive conquests, than he had gained by
force of arms. Posterity will perceive that he was
dazzled by too much prosperity, and employed
incalculable means to accomplish his own downfall,
while he might have succeeded to the utmost of his
wishes, without hazarding or compromising any
thing. An enemy to whatever required patience
and reflection, he knew nothing but force ; and
JHeaven permitted him to be crushed by that very
power, which, till then, had been his only law.

The brave Polanders, despairing for their coun-
try, considered all their plans as chimerical, when
they perceived that Napoleon, more ambitious and
less vjrtuous than Charges XH, aspired at the Polish

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i

46 WILNA.

crown, and onlypr^used them his assistance, ths^
he might profit by their resentment against Russia*
Thus; that fortunate conqueror, restless, even on the
most splendid throne of Europe, was led astmy bj
the excess of his conquests, and strangely imagined
that he could not cement his fortune better thpn by
subverting the whole woild, and renewing in the
north the horrible wars of the middle age, when
nations, exasperated against each other, delivered
themselves up to every excess of barbarity* ^

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BOOK IL

WITEP8K*

WHILST Napoleon remained at Wilna, marshal
Davoust proceeded to Minsk, in pursuit of prince
Bagration, who endeavored to eflfect a junction with
the army of Barclay de Tolly. By that manoeuvre
we prevented the Russian prince from marching oa
the Dwina, and forced him to proceed towards Mo-
hilow on the Nieper, whither he was pursued by the
first corps, and the cavalry of general Grouchy. All
our other corps, which formed the centre, directed
their course towards Dinabourg. With regard to
the fourth corps, the two French divisions, and the
royal guards, took the road of Paradomin in their
march to Ochmiana; whilst the viceroy, the division
of Pino, and all the cavaliy, marched to Rudniki.

This latter movement was rendered necessary ia
consequence of information which we had received,
. that the Hetman Platoff, at the head of four thou-
sand Cossacks, having been separated from the corps
of Bagration, was expected on the road of Lidia,
where he would endeavour to eflfect a junction with
the Russian army, which had evacuated Wilna. At
this new9 the viceroy put himself in motion, but the

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48 WITEPSK-

road to Rudniki was so bad, that the cavalry of the
royal guard was obliged to pursue a different route.
It is not possible to form an idea of the difficulties
which presented themselves on that road, which was
entirely formed of the trunks of fir-trees, placed on
the marshy ground. The horses in passing over
these pieces of wood frequently trod between them^
and, falhng in this situation, inevitably broke their
legs. If, to avoid these difiiculties, we turned to the
right or left, we were in danger of sinking into mo-
rasses from which there was no possibility of escape.

The staffy after having lost some horses belonging
to our escort, at last succeeded in extricating itself
from this dangerous passage, and arrived at Rudniki
in the middle erf the night. The following morning
(July 8th) we marched towards Jachounoui, where
we regained the great road. Thence we proceeded
to Mal-Solechniki. The prince, however, would
not stop there ; but pursued his route to Bol-Solech-
niki, where he intended to remain during the night,
and hoped to receive some tidings of the cossacks,
whom he had orders to pursue. The following day
we continued our march, and arrived at a castle not
far distant from Soubotniki.

The viceroy was obliged to halt here, for the bad
roads having impeded the march of the thirteenth
and fourteenth divisions, as well as the Italian corps,
we had nothing but the light cavalry with us. The
order which bad been sent for hastening their pro-
gress, was by some mistake, returned to the chief of
the staff, so that these troops having received no in-
structions, had retained their position, while we be-

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WITEPSK* 4$

iieved that they were following us. At length, see^
iug that they did not anive, some intelligent officers
were sent out in aU directions, who succeeded, after
a long search, in extricating the division of Pino
from the marshes of Rudniki, and conducting the
guard towards Ochmiatuu The viceroy in the
mean time, after having searched in vain for the
Cossacks, returned and marched towards Jachou^
noui, where he joined the thirteenth and fourteenth
divisions. On the following day (July 12th), they
all took the road towards Smoi^oni, where they
effected a junction with the rest of the troops who
composed the fourth coips.

The town of Smorghoni is large and populous,
yet all the houses, with the exception of two or
three, are built of wood. A little river, with a bridge
thrown over it^ divides the castle from the town^
The inhabitants consist chiefly of Jews, who carry
on considemble commerce. For this reason, though
the town contained little that was remarkable, the
halt which we made in it was delightful to the
whole army, for it enabled us to procure a supply
of bread and beer.

During the day that we reposed at Smor^oni,
we erected a bridge over the Narotsch, that wc .
might proceed in a direct line to Vileia. But the
work was hardly finished when the orders were
changed, and the majority of the troops marched to
Zachkevitschi, where they remained that night.

The road from Zachkevitschi, to Vile'ika is very
sandy, and lies through a thick forest. A little he-

7

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50

WITEPSK.

fore we arrived here, we crossed the Wilia over a
floating bridge. The river at this place is neither
veiy broad nor deep, but its banks are extremely
steep, particularly the one opposite Vileika. On
entering the town, general Colbert, who command*
ed the advanced-guard, took some magazines which
had been abandoned ; and as a short time only had
elapsed since the enemy had quitted that position,
the viceroy redoubled his vigilance, for fear of a
surprise, and selected with the utmost care, an ad-
vantageous situation for his troops to encamp.

WhUst we marched towards Vileyna, the king of
Naples (Murat), assisted by the second and third
corps, drove the first western army from one position
to another beliind the Dwina, and at last forced them
to retire into the intrenched camp of Drissa. On
our right, prince Eckmuhl (Davoust) continued the
pursuit of prince JBagration, and arrived without
fighting as far as Borisow, on the Berezina. On
our left the marshal duke of Tarentum likewise ob-
tained important advantages and took entire pos-
session of Samogitia.

The conduct of the enemy in thus continually
flying before us was accounted for in different ways.
Some thought it was the effect of weakness, others
believed it to be the result of a well-digested plan.
' What is become of those Russians,' asked the for-
mer, ' who, for more than fifty years, have been the
terror of Europe, and the conquerors of Asia ? The
power of Russia seems to be merely fictitious, in-
vented by hireling writers, and deceitfid travellers.

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WITEPSK. 61

It exists only in ima^nation, and the phantom van-
ishes the moment we attack it* They, however,
whom experience had taught to wait the result of
time, affirmed that it was unwise to despise an ene-
my whom we had not yet combatted ; that Tiis flight
was calculated to diminish our force, and to deprive
us of the means of recruiting it, by drawing us further
from our own country. * The Russians,' added these
intelligent reasoners, ^derive their most powerful
succours from their climate. Why should they seek
to fight us when they know that the winter will com-
pel us to abandon all our conquests ?'

At last the Russians themselves explained the mo-
tives of their retreat, by the following proclamation
distributed on the borders of the Dwina : —

' FRE3VCH SOLDIERS !

'You are forced to march to a new war. You
are told that it is because the Russians do not render
justice to your valour. No, comrades, they truly
appreciate it. You will see it on the day of battle.
Consider that if it be necessary, army will succeed
to army, and that you are four hundred leagues from
your resources. Do not allow yourselves to be de-
cieved by our first movements. You know the Rus-
sians too well to suppose that they fly before you.—
In proper time they will accept the combat, and you
win find it difficult to retreat We advise you as fel-
low-soldiers, to return in a body to your native coun-
try. Do not believe the perfidious suggestion that
you are fighting for peace. You shed your blood

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$% WITEP8K.

to gratify the insatiable ambiticm of a soverei^
who does not wish for peace. He might have
obtained H long ago ; but he sports with the lives of
fats brave subjects. Return to your homes, w if you
wish it, seek an asylum in Russia ; there you will
iiM'get the names of conscription, levies, bans and
wrtere-banSy and that militaxy tyranny which does
not allow you for one minute to shake off the op*
pressive yoke.'

This proclamation contained such palpable truths,
that its publication astonished every one. Some^
however, regarded it as a forgery, and thought that
it was written to pepare the way for that despicable
answer of a French grenadier^ which would certainly
have become a subject of pleasantry to the army,
and of contempt to foreigners, if we had not long
known that an implicit obedience to his chief is the
first duty of a soldier ; and that every Frenchman
fidthful to his banners, esteemed it a point of honour
strenuously to combat all those whom his command-
ers should represent as the enemies of his country.

Continuing our march we anived at Kostenevit-
schi, a miserable little village, where excepting the
post-house and vicamge, there were only a few
wretched barns covered with thatch. Tlie royal
guard encamped round the village, but the viceroy
established his head-quarters two leagues further on.

The following day (July 17,) after a march of
five leagues over a tolerably good road, we reached
the town ofDolghinow, the inhabitants of which

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WtTEPSK. 63

consisted almost entiiely of Jews, a circumstance by
which we were enabled to procure a few bottles of
brandf . Our incessant marches, and the long period
during which we had been deprived of that liquor,
induce me to mention a circumstance apparently
80 insignificant ; but, from the importance which we
attached to it, the reader may judge of the extent of
our wants, and the difficulty of supj^ying them.

We proceeded thence to Dokzice, a distance of
about seven leagues. That town the inhabitants of
which were likewise Jews, contained a handsome
square, near which stood a church, and a wretched
chateau, built of wood. The extremities of the town
are situated on two eminences, between which runs
a little marshy rivulet On the day that we halted
here we suddenly perceived a thick smoke arising
behind the chateau in which the prince was quarter-
ed. The flames soon spread on every side, and
consumed in an instant several neighboring houses ;
but the soldiers rendering the most timely and effi-
cacious assistance, the fire was quickly subdued,
and all our apprehensions vanished.

Near Smorghoni we had left the road to Minsk
land the Nieper, and had turned to the left, to ap-
proach to Dwina, and to follow the movements of
the centre of the grand army, which had taken that
direction. General Sebastiani, who commanded the
advanced-guard, assisted by the corps of the duke of
Reggio (Oudinot), repulsed the cossacks as far as
Drouta ; but the enemy which was shut up in the
intrenched camp, at Drissa, having been iniformed

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64 WITEPSK.

that our cavalry was badly guarded, threw a bridge
over the river, and detached five thousand infantry
and as many cavalry, commanded by general Koul-
niew. An engagement soon commenced, and gen-
eral Saintgeniez, being taken by surprise, was made
prisoner, while the rest of the brigade did not escape
without considerable loss.

As we approached Berezina, where we intended
to encamp that night, the road gradually descend-
ing, brought us unawares to the river of the same
name, which runs through one of the most marshy
plains in Europe. We were convinced of this when
we arrived at the town, the houses of which extend-
ed in a long line over an absolute morass. Beyond
Berezina the road is continued over a kind of turf,
on wliich were placed a quantity oi[ fir branches, to
give some firmness to a mere bog. A few intervals
were left for the waters to drain off.

From the Berezina, as far as the Oula, the coun^
try was wet and marshy. The road from one river
to the other forms a line of twenty or twenty-five
leagues, passing continually through marshes and
immense forests. Gloubokce was our first station,
and Kamen the second. The first of these towns
is remarkable for a beautiful castle of wood ; and
the latter for a kind of mountain in the very centre
of the place, which overlooks the plain.

At Botscheikovo we approached the borders of
the Oula (July 23d). This river is united to the Be-
rezina by the canal of Lepel, which gives facility to
the commerce of all the neighboring provinces.

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WITEPSJf^. 55

This canal is yet more important, as it forms a com-
munication between the Nieper and the Dwina;
and thus uniting the Baltic and the Mediterranean,
it enlivens the interior of Lithuania, and enriches her
with productions of the most distant climes. The
banks of this river are very high and steep. On the
left side beyond the bridge, appears a mignificent
chateaUy which we thought the most beautiful that
we had seen since our arrival in Poland.

We could not, however, restrain our astonishment
at the rapidity vdth which we were allowed to pro-
ceed in our march without opposition. We advan-
ced daily without any impediment, and with almost
as much security |is when we tmversed Bavaria, and
Saxony. The tranquillity in which our adversaries
permitted us to continue was incomprehensible, and
every one formed the most opposite and frequently
the most erroneous conjectures. At Kamen, how-
ever, we learned, from several officers, who had been
sent to Ouchatsch, where the emperor was, that the
enemy, having quitted their trenches at Drissa, had
ascended the Dwina, towards Polotsk and Witepsk,
through fear of being cut off by our corps, which
" had taken a direction towards the latter town. The
orders which they brought us, made us likewise be-
lieve that we should soon meet with considerable
resistance. These conjectures were presently chan-
ged into certainty when, on reconnoitering the
mouth of the Oula, and the road to B^zeokovitschi,
we discovered that the cossacks hovered on our
flanks. The viceroy immediately ordered the ad-

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66 wifrEPSK.

vanced guard and the light cavabji to proceed to
Bezenkovitschi, where the Russians were assembled
in much force, under general Osterman (July 23d.)

The prince soon afterwards mounted his horsei
accompanied bj his aids-de*camp, and followed the
movements of the advanced guard. When he arri-
ved at Bezenkovitschi, the enemy retreated and
crossed the Dwina with his cavalry, and some pieces
of artillery. While we were in that town, the Rus-
sian sharp-shooters, who were concealed in the
houses of the village, on the opposite side of the
river, kept up an incessant fire upon us. Colonel
la Croix, who was passing down the principal street
leading to the river, received a shot which broke
his thigh. This accident produced a painful sen-
sation through the whole army. Every one pitied
this worthy officer, and lamented that we were
deprived of his valuable services, by a fatality which
firequently takes from the most deserving all power
to distinguish themselves. After having reconnoi-
teredthe position of the enemy the viceroy returned^
for the night, to the castle of Botschevkovo. In
the evening he had a long conference with general
Dessoles, the chief of his staff, which made us pre-
sume that we should march in the night ; but the
order was not given till the following morning.

(July 24th.) After five hours' march, and cross-
ing a small river, called Svetscha, our troops arrived
at Bezenkovitschi. This little town was already
filled with troops, particularly with the two divisions
of cavalry under generals Bruycres and Saint Ger-

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main, who had come by the way of Oula. This
great mass of troops marching towards Witepsk, ter-
rified not the enemy, who was separated from us
by the Dwina. His cavalry proudly manceuvrcd
and fired on our soldiers when they approached to
seize the ferry-boat, which had been carried to the
opposite shore.

The viceroy, however, having resolved to crosd
the Dwina at this point, caused a battery of two pie-
ces of cannon to be erected, to protect the sap-
pers who had been ordered to construct a bridge
and the marines, of the royal guard, who plunging
into the water, attempted to reach the boat These
guns, and a few sharp-shooters placed on the shore
intimidated the Russians so much, that they quitted
the houses in which they had concealed themselves,
and allowed us quietly to take back the boat, and
to complete the bridge which the engineers were
erecting.

In the mean time a division of Bavarian cavaliy,
under general Preysing, having discovered a ford
about two hundred paces below the bridge, effected
their passage. Scarcely had they crossed the river,
when they rangied themselves in order of battle, sup-
ported by some companies of light troops, which
had been sent over in the boat. In an instant they
advanced to charge the enemy^ who fled at their
approach, setting fire to every thing which he was
compelled to leave behind. We particularly ad-
mued, on that occasion, the manner in which the

8

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Bavajrlam advanced. Hie pieciaion of tUeir ef(i»f
lions, and the skill mth which thef dispoeed thiB»r
;out-po9t3, may be quoted as mode^te ^r those yj/bit
im«y be cdled to execute similar manoeuvres.

While ive ivere contefrnjilating these operations
at was reported that the Emperor was approaching.
The courier who had brought the ne'vcs w^ quickly
followed by another, who .con&iBk^d it Soon after-
4/trard8 arrked the 3addle-l»>rses, the oiBSic^rs of ordr
•nance, and &e general of the guard, in ^boit, ^hf
itown, sdreadyfuU of troc^, presently became abso*
lutely crowded^ In the midst of tbis tumuUNapo*
deonappeeared. Me|Mroceeded immedktt^y to that
rpart of the river at wltkii they wesre er^ctin^ th«r
ibridge.' In a dry and sarcastic manner he bla<P^.e<|
jits constrdction, which was certadinly very d^ectiv^^
£iut having' determined fo proceed tQ the other side,
$^ crossed ther bri^e^ and mounting .his horse, join^
ed the Bavarians, who had halted on the platiiir
Then marching with them^ he advanccfd nearly two
leagues from B^zenkovitschi. Napoleon^ doubtlei^.
.executed ^s manceavre wiA a view <3!f attracting
the enemy's attention to this point, that he might
find less opposition wHen be attacked Witep^, pn(
iftie oppose bank. He likewise ihoped to annp^
^e Russian army in its rcitreat, whi^i t^as novy
ascending the Diivina, after JbaviiPig abandoiied A^
intrenched camp at Dris9a-

It is impossible to imagine the confus)oji whicb
leigned at B^ajeukcmtschi, and which increased o»

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Ik^ Smfdt of the staff. In the m^t the tmnuH be-
came stMl more dreadfid. The crowd of troops
•iwhich flowed in from all pajrts, aod the quickness
fvith whiiih they Were ardkfred to ptoceei^ left no
4oubt that we were oii the ere of a battle. The
^araiiy commanded by tbe lang of Naf^es (Mumt)
ibrmed tlie vai^ard, and the foinrth ooips followed
Immediately to support them.

(Jidy 25th;) Oiders were given to march fa
Ostrowno.; and die slaff was on die point of settii^
.entf whea we heard a strong cannonade. At this
motneirt an aid-de-camp of general Delaons arrived
m gjreat haste fo inform the viceroy (Eugene Bean^
fiaamois) that the eneiny bad been overtaken near
Ostrowno, andthat a yigiourous jengagement had just
commenced The Aid-de-.cam^ bad scarcely finish-
ed his report^ when the noise of the cannoa was re-
dotibled His hi^bness hnmediately commanded
the baggage of the head-quarters to hsAt ! and ac-
companied only by his stkfi^ hast^ied to OstroWno,
where he j^oined the king of Naples, who had with
liim the divisions of carahy of Bruy^res, and Saint
Germain, supported by the thirteenlh diviirfon of
infantry. But when they anived at Soiife^^^he affair
had already been successfully decided. Twenty
pieces of. cannon, wWch had faHen into our power,
and the vast numbers of dead fliat were left on the
field of batde, proved, both the resistance of the
/conquered, and tlie valour of the seventh and eighth
hussars, who had on t hat occasion, oovered them-
selves with glor

laa^^itw

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It was three o'clock in the morning (July 26th)
when the viceroy arrived at Ostrowno, with the king
of Naples. The fourth corps were qncamped near
him, and the cavalry placed in front, watched the
manoeuvres of the enemy. At six o^clockhismajes-^
ty and the prince, accompanied by their respective
staffs, marched towards the out-posts, and passing
over the ground where the engagement had taken
place the night before, they heard that Osterman's
corps consisting of two divisions, was drawn up in Qr:^
der of battle. The prince immediately ordered the
thirteenth and fourteenth divisions to support the
cavalry comms^nded by the king of Naples. The
hussars who were sent out to reconnoitre, having
met with much opposition at the entrance of a forest,
returned with the intelligence that the enemy seem-
ed determined to dispute our passage. We heard
on all sides the fire of the sharp-shooters : and the
cannon of the Russians, placed on the road, enfila-
ded our columns • which had advanced. General
Danthouard ordered our artillery to be brought for-
ward without delay, and it was in this exchange of
balls, that captain Ferrari of the eighth hussars, for-
merly aid-de-camp to the prince of Neufchatel, had
his leg shot off. Meanwhile, the king of Naples
hastening wherever his presence could be useful,
ordered an attack to be made from our left, to dis-
perse the enemy's cavalry, which occupied the ex-
tremity of a wood. But, notwithstanding this ma-
noeuvre was well planned, it had not the desired
effect. The detachment of |fi|pia|^, entrusted with

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WITKFSK. 6l»

Ate execution of it, was too weak and was sooi^
compelled, though without loss, to retreat before the
liumeious squadrons who rushed on to the charge.

White we were thus manoeuvring on our left, the
Russians attempted to force our right The viceroy
perceiving it, caused the thirt€fenth division to pro-
ceed towards that point, who advancing rapidly on
the road, stopped the progress of the enemy ; and
the artillery of our regiments, being advantageously
placed on some eminences, made us feel certaiH
that our line could not be forced.

Our right seemed well defended, when a sudden-
attack was made, and dreadful cries were heard,
both on the left and in the centre. The enemy,
advancing in great force, had vigorously pushed
back bur sharp-shooters, placed in the forest, and
compelled the artillery to retire precipitately ; while
the Russian cavalry, profiting by a little plain on
our left, finiously charged the Croats, and the 84th
regiment. Happily, however, the king of Naples
came up in time to check their progress. Two
battalions of the 106th, which had been kept in
reserve, supported the Croats ; while general Dan-
thonard, in whom were united the most brilliant
talents and undaunted bravery, seconded by colonel
Demay, and captain Bonardelle, reanimated the
courage of the artillery, and, by skilful evolutions,
replaced them in the position which they had quit-
ted but for a moment.

The affairs of the left and of the centre being re-
established, the Mng qf Naples and prince Eugene

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esi wiTSPSK.

ff6c^€dMd to the light wing and put it in motioa.
The enemy, lying in ambuscade before aforest, op
posed atigormis resistance to the 92d regiment^
xAAchy notwithstanding its being placed on an
adrantageous eininence, remioned inactive. Thd
▼iceroy distantly dispatched the adjutant-coniman:-
dant Foresti^) to urge th^m foUirard; wfao^ ivitb
tlome difficulty^ succeeded in mdkingthem advance.
Their march^ however appeared too slow to the
impetuous valour of the didce of Abrantes (Junot)^
That intrepid general, who, in other campaigns had
acted as commander in chief, hastily miitted Ihe
viceroy, and put himself at the head of this re^
ment, on which every eye v^as now fixed^ H^
|>resence, or rather his example, electrkied eve^
heart ; and the brave 92d, led on by general Rdut^
sel, marched instantly to the charge, ovidlrthrew
every thing that opposed them, and penetrated at
last into the forest, vvhere the enemy wto pmtectedl
byintrenchments almost impregnable^

On looking to the extremity of our right, we
perceived a Russian column, which had been gent td
turn our ffadcs commencing its retreat. The king
6{ Naples, with that enthusiasm which is peculiair to
great minds, ordered the cavally to charge upon that
column, and to compel it to ky down its arms. Tfa«
difficulties of the ground made the soldiers hesitate
for a moment ; but the king, perceiving at a glance,
that the execution must be as prompt as the thou^t
itself, drew his sword from its scabbard, and eageriy
exclaimed, * Let the bravest fottow me? This trait

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^fh^oismflM W mih adiniratioik AH fjiefsed
lorwQrd t^ seQoiid hiflei ; but deep ravines and iiQr
jpeoetmM^ thicks iwpe^d pur progress, and g^?f
tbfi ^emj time to escs^e, and to rejoin the PQqpt
few iv^ch tljief bad been d^t^ched

Tb^ 9}icp^9s ^ tb^ cQmbat was certain ; but im
dar§d pot v^t^re to cross the extemuive forest bor
iam uSf on ti^ o^er si4e of vrhich were the bills of
WitepfJ^, Kvb^re ^e liBei^ the forces of the enemy
Wf^K encftiope.d. . Wbil? we wer^ deliberating <m^
j^be m^Wi^ of ^fectij^g th^ impcNrtant passage, wt
he^fd ^ ^efit tumuJit behind us. No one coulci
giHe$9 the cruise, ^nd uneasiness was added to oyr
^urigskj ; but when ^e perceived Napoleon sur«>
ro^odMl ¥y % )>|iUistiD||t suite, iour fears were di^sipar
ted ; and the enthusiasm whjich his presence alwajf
e;s:citQd, msAe us hof)e that he would add to the
gloiy of that eventful day. The king of Naples and
the prince h^ened to meet him, and informed hin^
of the event of the engagement, and the measures
whiQb they had since adopted. But Napoleon, desi*
C09S to become ^ofote intimately acquainted witl^
every circumstance, quickly proceeded to the mo3(
i^vancedpp^ of our line, and viewed from an em-
ineQce, the position of the enemy, and the nature of
the ground. His eye penetrated into the Russiai)
jpan^p. He guessed t^eir plans, and immediately
c^dei^^^ ue w dispositions, which being executed with
|»recisiqn ^md rapidity, the aimy was soon in the mid-
dle of the forest. We followed at a quick pace and
reached the bills of Witepsk as the day began to close.

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64 wiTiipsK.

The thirteenth division, which assisted in tti»
manoeuvre, experienced much resistance from thd
enemy in crossing the woods. He retired slowly,
and disputed every step ; while his numerous sharp*
shooters made us pay dearly for the ground which
we had gained. It was in one of these unfortunate
recontres, that a Russian dragoon, coming up to
general Roussel, fired at him with a pistol, and killed
him on the spot As the Russians seldom place
dragoons among their sharp-shooters, it occasioned
the report that general Roussel had been murdered
by one of our own men ; but we were afterwards as-
sured that we had not to reproach ourselves with the
death of that brave general, who was truly worthy
of oiu: regret, both on account of his military quail-
ties arid his private virtues.

Brussier's division (the fourteenth) followed the
great road, and arrived very late at the position
which had been appointed for it between the road
and the Dwina. The fifteenth division and the Ital-
ian guard, forming the rest of the infantry of the
fourth corps, were left in reserve, a little behind the
fourteenth.

After the diflferent corps had taken their respec-
tive pbsitions. Napoleon established his head-quar*
ters in the village of Koufcoviatschi. The king of
Naples and prince Eugene were encamped in an
uncomfortable little chateau near \h6 village of Do-
brijka, surrounded by the corps under their com-
mand.

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WITSPSK. 65

• On the following morning, at the dawn of daj,
(July 27th) our troops marched towards Witepsk.
The Russians, retiring on that town, fired some
cannon, which, however, did us little injury. Thef
afterwards occupied a large plain near the town,
which commanded the roads by which we could
^proach. We could easily observe the lines of the
enemy from the hiU on which we were placed, and
particularly his numerous cavalry, arranged in order
of battle at the extremity of the plain.

The division of Broussier, constituting the ad-
tranced-^ard, crossed^ by means of a miserable
bridge, the rivulet which separated us from the plaln^
jand drew up on a height opposite the eminence^
which was occupied by the Russians. The six-
teenth regiment of chasseurs, having descended the
hill, was vigorously charged by several squadrons
of the cossack-guard, and it would have experien-
ced a total defeat, if it had not been disengaged
lirom the enemy, towards the left, by the light troops
of the ninth regiment, commanded by captains
Guyard and Savary. These brave men attracted,
on this occasion, the attention of the whole army,
which, encamp f d on th e surroundinjjigiffhts, as on
an amphitheatre^itnessed their exploits, and ren-
dered them the applause that was justly due to their
valour.

The sixteenth chasseurs, retiring upon the four-
teenth division, were protected by the 63d regiment,
commanded by colonel Grosbon. That division
forming a square, presented to the enemy an impettr

9

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66 WITEPSK.

etrable front, and all their repeated and furious at-
tempts to break it, proved inefifectual. This cir-
cumstance threw a little confusion into our ranks ;
but Napoleon being at hand, it could not continue^
Placed on an eminence, from which he could see att
the manoeuvres, he calmly made every disposition
which he thought was necessary to secure the vic-
tory. He ordered a regiment of cavalry to retire,
to open the passage of the bridge to the thirteenth
division. This retrograde movement spread terroir
amongst our train, which was composed of work-
men, sutlers and victuallers, a class of people who
ar« easily alarmed ; and who, alvf ays afraid of los*
ing their booty, are rather prejudicial than useful to
an army.

The thirteenth division having advanced, filed to
the right. The viceroy marched at their head, and
conducted them behind the fourteenth division, to an
eminence which overlooked the plain on which the
enemy was encamped.

These heights, not being guarded, we advanced
without difficulty, and took our position on the sum-
mit, opposite the Russian camp, scparajed only by
the river Loutchesa, the steep shores of which form-
ed, a ravine so deep, that it was impossible to come
to a general action. We pretended, however, to com-
mence the engagement by detaching some light
troops, who succeeded in passing over the ravine, and
established themselves in a little wood. But not
beiog supported, they proceeded no further, and re-
turned to their corps, as soon as the fire of the batte-

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fff

ries had ceased, and the divisions were no longer
utider arms.

This suspension, when the armies were in sight
ef each other, excited universal astonishment, and
every one enquired, * Where is the emperor ?
What are his intentions ?

During these discussions we were joined by the
first corps, and the imperial guard. Some thought
that Napoleon waited for the junction of all his forces
before he began a serious attack; others affirmed that
marshal Ney, and the cavalry of general Montbrun,
advancing from the other side of the Dwina, would
turn the position at Witepsk, and thus cut off the
retreat of the Russians. But this manoeuvre was,
doubtless, impracticable, since it was not executed.

On that night the troops bivouaced on the places
where they had taken their positions, and the soldiers
" of the different corps, mingling together, related to
each other the share which their respective divisions
had borne in the honor ol the day. From these ac-
counts it appeared, that the combat, though glorious,
had not been bloody. Amongst the small . number
who were killed, was the ingenious colonel Liedot, a
man truly worthy of the corps to which he belonged. ^
During the expedition to Egypt, he distingiyshed
himself by his courage ; and in the construction of
some fortifications in Italy, he proved that the
military art is no obstacle to the developement of
' the most profound conceptions.

The boldness with which the Russians retained
their positions, and the junction of a great part of

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68 WITEP9K*

our troops at the same point, induced us to beKeve
that a general action would take place on the follow-
ing day. What was, therefore, our astonishment^
when we perceived at the dawn of day (July 28th)
that the enemy had effected his retreat ! Our whole
army went immediately in pursuit, except the im-
perial guard, which was established at Witepsk,
where the emperor seemed inclined to remain.

This town, the capital of the government of that
name, situated on a plain between some rising
ground, and the shores of the Dwina, contained
twenty thousand inhabitants, and presented, from
the beauty of its situation, a most delightful aspect.
Poland and Lithuania had, during more than two
months, and through a space of more than three
hundred leagues, offered. nothing to our view but
deserted villages, and a ravaged country. Destruc-
tion seemed to precede our steps and in every di-
rection the whole population was seen flying at our
approach, leaving their habitations to hords of cos-
sacks, who destroyed every thing which they could
not carry away. Having long experienced the most
painful deprivations, we regarded with envious eyes,
those well-built and elegant houses where peace
and abundance seemed to dwell. But that repose
which we bad so eagerly anticipated, was again
denied us, and we were compelled to renew our
pursuit of the Russians, leaving on our left this town,
the object of our most ardent wishes and our dear^
est hopes.

As we followed the movement of the advanced

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WITEP9K. ,. 68

^ard, we were astonished at perceiving the perfect
order with which count Barclay de ToUy had evac-
uated his position. We wandered in all directions
over an immense plain, without perceiving the faint-
est trace of his retreat. Not one carnage, not a sin*
gle dead horse, not even a solitary vehicle indicated
the road which the enemy had taken. WTiile we
remained in this uncertainty, which, perhaps, waa
without a parallel, colonel Klisti, scouring the neigh^^
bouring country to endeavour to find some peasant,
discovered a Russian soldier sleeping under a bush.
This rencontre was extremely fortunate, and the
viceroy profiting by it, questioned the prisoner, who
gave us some information as to the route that the
column to which he belofi^ed had taken.

The prince, doubting the accuracy of the intelli*
gence, advanced to reconnoitre, but not having met
with any thing worthy of attention, we returned at
full speed towards the high road which leads from
Witepsk to the source of the Dwina. The whole
road was covered with cavalry. The king of Na-
ples soon joined the viceroy, and rafter some consul-
tation, they ordered their respective corps to proceed.
The heat was excessive, and the clouds of , dust rais-
ed by the horses rendered our march insupportably
fatiguing. We were soon obliged to stop, and halt-
ed at a church built of wood, where the king of Na-
ples and the prince had a long conference together.

The cavalry had filed off in pursuit of the Russian
army, and we soon heard that they had come up with
them. The rest of the troops immediately hastened
their march and overtook the epemy. The cossacks

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70 , WITEPSK.

who formed the rear-guard retreated on the advance
of oiir artillery, and only halted to fire a few catiinoEi
shot whenever they found a favourable opportunity.
They continued manoeuvring till they were beyond
Aghaponovchtchina, where our corps and the cav-
ahy encamped. Near this village, on an eminence
towards the left, was a wretched chateau built of
wood, where the emperor (who, being informed ttet
we had overtaken the Russians, immediately left
Witepsk to join us) established his quarters*

Never did a bivouac present a more military ap-
pearance than ours at Aghaponovchtchina. Napo-
leon, the king of Naples apd the prince, were in
one tent. The generals, placed in miserable huts
which their soldiers had hastily constructed, were
encamped with. their officers by the side erf* a rivulet,
the miry water of which was preserved with &e
greatest care. During the three days that we had
been on the field of battle, water and roots had
constituted our only nourishment Oiar divisions
were encamped on the eminences which surround-
ed the chateauj and the enemy could see our numer-
ous fires, the brilliant light of which dissipated the
obscurity of the night.

Early on the following morning (July 29th) we
again proceeded in search of the Russians. The
emperor, however, returned to Witepsk, where he
proposed to remain a sufficient time to execute his
plans relative to Lithuania. When the king of Na-
ples arrived at the separation of the roads of Jano-
•witchi and Sourai, he left us, taking with him the
whole heavy cavalry, and the fourteenth division.

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WITEPSK* 71

The viceroj, still pursuing his way, marched towards
the Dwina, followed by the thirteenth and fifteenth
divisions, the royal guard, and the brigade of light
cavalry commanded by general Villasa.

We were on the point of entering Sourai when we
were informed by some chasseurs that an enemy's
convoy, feebly escorted, was endeavouring to pass
die river to arrive at the road to Weliki-luki. The
viceroy immediately ordered his aid-de-camp, De-
seve, to follow (he chasseurs, and seize on the con-
voy. This order was fully executed : for, after two
hours, the aid-de-camp returned vdth the intelligence
that the conroy was ours.

Th6 town of Sourai, although entirely built of
wood, was the best that we had seen. Its popula-
tion, consisting chiefly of Jews, was considerable,
and their industry procured us many comforts of
which we stood in the greatest need. The maga-
zines were tolerably filled, which was in truth, a
fortunate circumstance, for every thing seemed to
indicate that we should make some stay in this Uttle
towni

Souari, without being a military position, was a
very important place. It is situated at the junction
of the Casplik with the Dwina, and at the point
where the high roads to Petersburgh and Moscow
divide. These form two Utes-de-pont^ which per-
fectly command the road to Witepsk. During our
stay here several geographical engineers arrived,
and executed some plans of the river and the sur-
rounding country.

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72 WtT£PSKr

The Uiirteenth division which had followed os^
was encamped about a leagu? behind Sourai ; a
part of the fifteenth, and the fbot^guard, were quar^
tered in the town. The horse-^ard, commanded
by general Triaire, proceeded to the other side of
the Dwina, and sent off a strong detachment on the
road to Weliki-luki. During that march, the adju-
tant of the palace, Boutarel, discoyered that the road,
as far as Ousviat, formed a continued defile across
the woods. In the immediate vicinity of that sm^
town, the country was totally different, and the pro*
visions which the dragoons brought from that expe-
dition, proved that this neighbourhood offered abim*
dant resources for the cantonnient of the troops.

On our arrival at Souari, the v^coroy being infon^
med that another Russian convoy, with a strong
escort had taken the road towards Veliz, ordered
Baron Banco, colonel of the second regiment of Italr
ian chasseurs, to take with him two hundred chosen
men, and proceed immediately in pursuit. After
nine hours? march, this detachment arrived at Veliz,
just as the convoy was issuing from the town and
crossing the bridge over the Dwina. The chasseum
instantly charged the escort. Five times they were
repulsed by the infantry, and by numerous detach-
ments of cavalry, much stronger than their own-
But the bravery of the Italians triumphed at length
over the obstinate resistance of the enemy, and they
succeeded in taking all the baggage, and compel-
ling five hundred Russians to lay down their arms.
This victory cost us some wounded men ; among

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these weire si]f officers, one of whom died of hi5
Wounds.

While Napoleon was at Witepsk, endeavouring to
organize Lithuania, and the centre of the army was
inactive between the Nieper, and the Dwina, we
learned that the pruice of Eckmuhl (Davoust) had
been attacked at Mohilow. Bagration, profiting by
the leisure which the combat at BorisoW had allow-
ed him, crossed the Beresina at Bobruisk, and
marched towards Novoi-Bickow. On the 23d July
three hundred cossacks attacked us, at the dawn of
day, and took about a hundred prisoners from the
third chasseurs, among whom was the coloneL An
alarm was spread in our camp* The drum was beat,
and our soldiers flew to arms. The Russian gene-
ral Sicverse, with two chosen divisions, directed all
the attacks. From eight in the morning until five
in the evening the firing continued oh the skirts of
the forest and on the bridge which the Russians
wished to force. At five o'clock the prince of Eck-
muhl caused three chosen battaKons to advance ; he
placed himself at their head, overthrew the Russians/
forced their position, andpinrsued them more than a
league. The loss must have been equal on both
sides, but prince Bagration, satisfied with the recon-
nmmfice which he had made, retired on Bickow^
where he crossed the Nieper and proceeded to Smx)-
len^o, at which place the two Russian armies were
to form a junction.

Genetal Kamenski, with two divisions, endeav-
oured to join prince Bagration ; but, being unable

10

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74 - mTZvsK.

to effect it, he returned to Wolhynia, and unitiiifp
himself to the ninth and fifteenth divisions, fonnedl
by count Mq^rkoff, and then commanded by general
Tormasow. These four divisions, forming a consid-^
erable army, marched towards Kobiin^ and attached
tiiemselves to the seventh corps. They surrounded
the Saxon general Klengel, who had with him only
two regiments of infantry, and two squadrons of cav--
airy. Obliged to yield to superiour force, he did not
sunender till after an obstinate combat, hoping to^
the last, that he might be reinforced by general
Regnier ; but that officer, though he advanced as*
rapidly as possible, did not amve till the cajpitulatioi^
had been signed more than two hours.

Notwithstanding we sustained these losses on our
jnghty the successes of our left wing more thane
counterbalanced them. The duke of Tarentum^
commanding the Prussian corps, pushed forward
several strong detachments on the road to Riga, and
by the skilful dispositions of geperals' Grawert and
Kleist, gained very iSighal advantages over the Rus-
sians, A few days afterwards, general Ricard took
Dunabourg^ which the enemy had abandoned, after
having made great preparadona for its defence.
But the enteiprize most glorious to our arms, was
performed by the second corps. The duke of Reg-
gio, (Oudifiot) having pushed forward his advanced
guard towards Sebei, met prince Wittgenstein, who
having been previously reinforced by the corps of
prince Repniii, furiously attacked him. The en-
gagement took place near the castle Jakoubovo*^

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iriTEPSK. IB

The division of Legrand sustained a severe engage*
ment till ten o'dock at night, when, by the valour
of the 26th light infantry, and the 56th of the line^
the Russians were repulsed with considerable loss.
Notwithstanding this, they ventured on the morrow
to attempt the passage of the Dwina, The duke of
Reggio (Oudinot) ordered general Castex not to op-
pose them. The enemy fell into the snare, and on
the 1st of August, advancing towards Drissa, drew
up in order of battle facing the second corps. Fif-
teen thousand men, forming half of Wittgenstein'*
army, had crossed the river, when a masked battery
of forty pieces of cannon was opened upon themy
and kept up a constant a^nd destructive fire for halt
^n hour. At the same moment the division of Le*
grand advanced to the attack, and the enemy begin*
ning to fall into confusion, the division of Verdier
made a furious and iitesistible charge with fixed
bayonets. The Russians were driven into the riven
Three thousand men, and fourteen pieces of cannon
remained in our power. Pursuing their scattered
troops on the road to Sebei, we counted two thous-
and dead, among whom was general Koulniew, a
very distinguished ofiicer of the light troops.

At that time a rumour was spread, that the empcy
'ror Alexander had been assassinated at Veliki-luki
by his courtiers, who were indignant at his offering
to treat with us. It was asserted that Napoleon had
exultingly announced this as a positive fact at one of
his audiences at Witepsk. We "afterwards ascer-
tained, that this false report had been circulated tQ

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76 WITEPSK.

counteract the effect of the energetic proclamatioii
which the emperor Alexander had issued to the
Russian people ; in which he had commanded eve-'
17 inhabitant of his immense empire to take arms
against a perfidious enemy, who, after haidng viola-
ted the boundaries of their country, was advancing
to destroy their ancient capital, and to annihilate
the glory of its illustrious founders. All these infa-
mous falsehoods completely failed of success. They
did not even reach a population, which, flying at
the approach of the French army, could neither ex-
perience the effects of an artifice so mean, nor be
corrupted by our flattering promises. In truth, the
object of every promise made by our deceitful chief
was to delude and to betmy ; it was to kindle the
most frightful discord, by exciting the people against
the nobility ; and stifling in their hearts that faithful
^.ttachment which was due to their lawful sovereign*

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BOOK III.

SMOLENSKO.

AFTER the battle of Veliz, the viceroy feeling
the necessity of reinforcing the detachment of chas-
seurs that had been left there, reinforced them with
the whole brigade of general Villataand with one
battalion of Dalmatians, Veliz, situated at the junc- •
tion of two principal roads, from Petersburg and
Smolensko, was exposed to the frequent attacks of
the Cossacks ; it was also the extreme point to which
the French army had penetrated. The population
of this small town, consisting entirely of Jews, pro-
cured us Uttle more than enough to supply the abso*
lute necessities of life. The environs contained
only a few miserable hovels. While the soldiers
gave themselves up to the indulgencies which such,
circumstances could afford, colonel Banco, who per-
fectly understood the Russian language, was inform-
ed by some spies, that the enemy intended to at-
tack the brigade. On receiving this intelHgence,
general Villata secretly made every proper disposi-
tion to repel the enemy, while he pubUcly affected
to think himself in complete security. At daybreak
the Cossacks suddenly appeared before the town,
hoping to find the garrison buried in sleep ; but the

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78 SMOLENSKO.

Dsdmatians, who were under arms, issuing front
their ambuscade, fired a well directed volley on
them, which did considerable execution. The en-
emy, frightened by this unexpected reception, im-
mediately took to flight, and abandoned the hope
of suiprising a town so bravely defended. The sol-
diers showed themselves on this occasion, worthy
of the rewards which their former valour had prociur-
edthem. '

The fourth corps, after resting ten days in the
town of Sourai, marched on the 9th of August, to*
wards Janowitschi, to join the fourteenth division.
On the evening before this movement took place,
colonel Labedoycre, aid-de-camp to prince Eugene,
was sent to the king of Naples. At his return from
his mission, he confirmed the news of a desperate
engagement having taken place between the enemy
and our troops, under general Sebastian!^ near In-
kovo, in which we had been defeated with consider-
able Ic^s. The reports of the different officers
agreed that our cavalry had severely suffered, and
that, besides several pieces of cannon, a fine light
company of the 24th infantry had been captured.
It was likewise said, that had it not been for the
braveiy of the Polish lancers, our losses would have
been infinitely greater. On this occasion, some bla-
med general Sebastiani ; but the greater part attrib-
uted the fault to general Montbnm, who disregard-^
ing the information he had received, and urged on
by his natural bravery, had hazarded a battle
against a much superior force of the enemy.

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SMOLEKSKO. 70

The viceroj having halted on the 10th of August
At Janowiidchi, the pioneers c^ the fourth corps, un«
der the direction of general Poitevin, endeavoured
to repair the bridge over the litde river that passes
through the town. It was, however, so completely
out of condition, that they were obliged to abandon
it, and the b^^gage and cavalry passed the river at
a ford where the bottom was very muddy, and the
banks exceedingly steep.

On our march towards Liozna, we crossed a plain
gently undulated with little hillocks. We after*
wards passed several small woods, and a rivulet that
runs near a hamlet situated about half way to the
castle of Velechkovitschi, where the army arrived
on the 1 1th of August, and the soldiers encamped
on the heights which surround the chateau. The
following (fey the road was dreadfully miiy, as far
as Liozna, and leading through wet and marshy
meadows, it presented almost insuperable obstacles
to our convoys, and particularly to our artillery ; it is
true, that two days before it had rained abundandy.
I should remark that these were the only violent
storms which we experienced ; for, during the rest
of the campaign, we were very little incommoded
by rain.

Near Liozna, a large and dirty village, we crossed
(August the 12th) a wretched bridge thrown over a
deep and winding river, which separates the town
from the chateaUy at the distance of three quarters of
a mile towards the west, where prince Eugene had
established his quarters. But a communicatiQn was

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k ^_^.,

80 SMOLENSKO.

established by means of another bridge. Our tro6ps
availed themselves of the camp that had been form-
ed hy the duke of Elchingen's (Ney's) corps, and
which was situated near this bridge, between the
town and the chateau.

Several obstacles arising from the nature of the«
country, prevented us from taking the direct road to
Liouvavitschi ; and even the road which we pursued
was not exempt from difficulties. We were forced*
t6 pass through several defiles, and over many
swampy meadows, and to cross roads which were
cut through the middle of the forest. We arrived at
last at Louvavitschi, the approaches to which were
as miiy as the interior of Liozna.

This town was composed of a great many wretch-
ed houses built entirely of wood. To arrive there,
we crossed a ruinous bridge. The road was so
dreadfully deep and clayey, that it was with the
utmost difficulty the horses could proceed. These
unwholesome marshes are the result of the situation
of Liouvavitschi. Several rivers surround the town,
and form extensive and dangerous -morasses, which
never dry.

As we entered Liouvavitschi, we saw all the cav-
alry of the king of Naples returning from the envi-
rons of Roudnia and Inkovo ; but, instead of follow-
ing the road to Razasna, they turned to the left,, to*
pass the Nieper at a higher point than that whichhad-
been marked out for us.

The thirteenth and fourteenth divisions encamp-
ed before the town ; the fifteenth remained on the

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^MOLENSKO.

gj

heights which were to the left, with the cavahy of
the Italian guard ; while the infantry of the same
guard, being generally stationed at the head-quar-
ters, encamped in the suburbs near the chateau oc-
cupied by the viceroy.

The re-union of the whole army on the borders of
the Neiper, plainly announced the intention of cross-
ing that river, and attacking Smolensko by the left
bank, the fortified part of which city was on this
side. The order was in fact to go to Razasna^
where bridges had been thrown across to facilitate
the passage;

Before our arrival at this river we passed over an
almost desert country. No village was to be seen
on the road, and we rarely found any houses at
which it was possible to stop. About half way on
our route, was a dangerous marsh, where we were
forced to leave part of our baggage. After many
difficulties, we reached the Nieper which is called
also the Borysthenes by the Greeks, a name which
ex<;ited in our minds the sublimest ideas. The illu-
sion however was soon destroyed when we saw a
shallow and insignificant stream. The river is so
narroWj and its banks so steep, that it was not seen
till we were on its very brink ; while the very steep-
ness of the banks renders the passage extremely dif-
ficult.

Near Razasna, all the different corps of the grand

army, some coming from Orcha, and others from
Babinovitschi, effected their junction. This im-
mense crowd of men thronging to th,e same point,

11

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83 SMOLENSKCX

while it augmented our privations, redoubled the
confusion and disorder that reigned on the great
road. The stragglers sought in vain to recover
their proper re^ments. They who were entrusted
with the most important orders^ could not fulfil their
tnission, so much weye the roads encumbered.
Hence arose a dreadful tumult on the bridges and in
the defiles.

The fourth corps having arrived (August the
16th) at a small town called Liadoui (remarkable
as being the last place where we found any Jews,)
we crossed a little river very near it, above which
is a considerable eminence which entirely com-
mands the town- We continued our march as far
as Siniaki,^ a miserable hamlet, consisting only of a
few houses, and situated about two hundred yards
from the road. The viceroy intending to encamp
in this place, gave orders for the troops to halt. In
the mean time, the other divisions of the grand army
marched towards Smolensko, and the cannonade
which we lieard made us presume that the town
was vigorously attacked.

The next day (August the 16th)^^e remained in
the same position, and during the whole of the day,
great numbers of troops passed by us towards the
city. Towards six o'clock in the evening we quit-
ted Siniaki, and after three hours march arrived at
Krasnoe, a small town with some houses built of
stone, and where the viceroy established his posts
of communication. We did not, however, stop
lL«re, but continuing our march, crossed a ^maU

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SMOLENSKO. 88

/ivev near Katova, above which was a rising ground.
The prince pitched his tent under a large avenue of
trees surrounded by his division. At day break (Au-
gust the 17th) we continued our route, and biv-
ouacked as before, three miles beyond the post of
Korouitn'ia in a wood of birch trees near a lake.
Our camp offered a most picturesque appearance.
The viceroy having caused his tent to be pitched
in the middle of the wood, the officers slept in their
carriages, and those who had none, cut down bran-
ches of trees to construct little huts, whilst their
comrades lighted the fires to cook the provisions.
As for the soldiers, some went on a foraging party,
others washed their linen on the banks of a limped
stream, while the rest, after a long march, amused
themselves in making war against the few ducks
and geese that had escaped the rapacity of the cos-
sacks.

We here learned that Smolensko, after a long
contested battle had been set on fir^^ by the Rus-
sians, and abandoned to their conquerors. This
was an omen of mournful presage to us, and proved »
to what extremities they will proceed who are deter-
mined not to bow to a foreign yoke. The next
day we approached this unhappy town ; but the
viceroy ordered us to halt in a wood, near the cas-
tle of Novoidwor, about three miles from the town,
and went to join the emperor.

I was encamped with the whole of the fourth
corps in this thick forest, when one of my comrades
returning Trom Smolensko, detailed to mc, in the fol^

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^ SMOL£NSKa«

lowing words, the circumstances of the battle at
which he was present.

* The position that we had occupied until the
13th of this month, made the enemy suppose that
we should attack Smolensko by the right bank of
the Boiysthenes, but the emperor, by a prompt and
unexpected manoeuvre, caused the whole of. the ar-
my to pass to the opposite side. The same day the
king of Naples (Murat) who still commanded the
advanced guard, and supported by the duke of El-
chingen (Ney) arrived at Krasnoe, and, as you know
already,' said the oflScer to me, ' gave battle to the
twenty-fifth Russian diyisipn, amounting to five thou-
sand infantry, and two thousand cavalry. In this
gallant afiair we took several pieces of cannon, and
some prisoners. After this sucpess, Napoleon, as
early as the J 6th, in the morning, appeared before
Smolensko. This town is surrounded by an ancient
wall, with battlements of eight thousand yards in
circumference, ten feet thick, and twenty-five high,
and at certain distances, flanked with enormous
towers in the form of bastions, the greater part of
which were mounted with heavy pieces of cannon.
•; 1^ * The Russians still expecting the attack to take
^'pkce on the right bank of the Borysthenes, kept a
cotisiderable portion of thpir troops oh that side of
the river ; but when they saw us airive by the left
bank, they thought themselves turned, and retreated
with the utmost rapidity to defend Smolensko, by
^he principal point at which we were about to attack
|hem» They maintained themselves with die greater

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SMOLENSKO. 86

obstinacy, as Alexander, when he quitted the anny,
had recommended them to give batde in order to
save Smoiensko.*

* After employing the 16th in reconnoitering the
place and its environs, the emperor confided the
left to the duke of Elchingen (Ney) inclining to-
wards the Borysthenes; the prince of Eckmuhl
(Davoust) had the centre ; the prince Poniatowski
the right ; and further on was the cavalry of the
king of Naples ; while the guard and ourselves con-
stituting the fourth division composed the reserve.
The eighth corps, under the command of the duke
of Abrantes (Junot) was also expected ; but that
general, making a false movement lost his way.f

* Half the day was passed in reconnoitering. The
enemy occupied Smolensko with thirty thousand
men, the rest were in reserve on the right bank,
communicating by means of bridges, constructed
below the town. But Napoleon, perceiving that the
garrison availed themselves of every moment of time
to strengthen their fortifications, ordered prince Po-
niatowski to advance, having on his left Smolendco,
and on his right the Borysthenes. He recommen-
ded him to construct some batteries to destroy the *
bridges, and by that means intercept the communi-
cation between the two banks. The prince of Eck- .
muhl (Davoust) who still kept the centre, attacked

* two intrenched suburbs, each defended by seven or

i§ * See the Thirteenth BuUetio..

f See the Thirteenth Bullelio;

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86 SM0LEN3K0.

eight thousand infantry. General Firand finished
the investiture of the place, taking his position be-
tween the first division and the Poles.

^ Towards mid-day the light cavalry of general
Bruy^res repulsed the Russian horse, and took pos-
session of an eminence near the bridge. On that
point was established a battery of sixty pieces of
cannon, the fire of which was so well directed on
the divisions of the enemy which remained on the
other bank, that they were compelled to retire.
Against this battery were opposed two of the ene-
mies consisting each of twenty pieces of cannon.
The prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust) who was charged
with the storming of the town, confided the attack
of the suburbs on the right, to general Morand ; and
those on the left to general Giidin. After a severe
fire of musketry, these two divisions forced the posi-
tions of the enemy, and followed them vWth wonder-
fid intrepidity as far as the covered way, which they
found strewed with dead. On the left the duke of
Elchingen (Ney) forced the intrenchments occupied
by the Russians, and constrained them to take refuge
in the town, in the towers, or on the ramparts, which
they defended with obstinacy. General Barclay de
Tolly then perceiving that an assault on the town
was likely to be attempted, reinforced it with two
new divisions, and two regiments of infantry of the
guard. The battle continued the whole of the night ;
but soon after the evening had commenced, thick
columns of smoke were seen to rise frmn different
quarters. As the darkness increased, the flames

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were distinctly observed spreading with incredible
rapidity in every direction. The whole city was
soon on lire, and, in the middle of a fine summer's
night, presented to our view the same spectacle that
an eruption of Mount Vesuvius ofieis to the inhabi-
tants of Naples.

* At one o'clock the ruins of the town were aban-
doned. Our first grenadiers prepared to mount the
breach at two o'clock in the morning, when, to their
great surprise, they approached without opposition,
and discovered that the place was entirely evacua-
ted. We took possession of it, and found on the
walls many pieces of cannon which the enemy could
not take away.

' Never,' said this officer to me, * can you form
an adequate^ idea of the dreadful scene which the
interior of Smolensko presented to my view, and
never during the whole course of my life can I for-
get it. Every street, every square, was covered
v^dth the bodies of the Russians, dead or dying.
The flames shed a horrible glare over them. Ah !
how much have those princes to answer for, who,
merely to gratify their own ambition, expose their
people to such calamities.'

The next day (August 19th) we entered Smoleii-
sko, by the suburb that is built along the bank of the
river. In every direction we marched over scatter-
ed ruins and dead bodies. Palaces, still burning,
offered to our sight only walls half destroyed by the
flames, and thick among the fragments were the
blackened carcasses of the wretched inhabitants,

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88 dMOLENSKO^

whom the fire had consumed. The few houses that
remained were completely filled by the soldieiy^
while at the door stood the miserable proprietor,
without an asylum, deploring the death of his chil-
dren, and the loss of his fortune. The churches
alone afforded some consolation to the unhappy vic-
tims, who had no other shelter. The cathedral, cel-
ebrated through Europe, and held in great venera-
tion by the Russians, became the refuge of the un-
fortunate beings who had escaped the flames. In
this church, and round its altars, were seen whole
families extended on the ground. On one side was
an old man just expiring, and casting a last look on
the image of the saint whom he had all his life in-
voked ; on the other was an infant whose feeble cries
the mother, worn down with grief, wa^endeavoring^
to hush, and while she presented it with the breast^
her tears dropped fast upon it.

In the midst of this desolation, the passage of the
army into the interior of the town, formed a striking
contrast. On one side was seen the abject submis-
sion of the conquered— -on the other, the pride atten-
dant upon victory ; the former had lost their all —
the latter, rich with spoil, and ignomnt of defeat,
marched proudly on to the sound of warlike music,
inspiring the tinhappy remains of a vanquished pop-
ulation with mingled fear and admiration.

The grand bridge across the Nieper, which had
been burnt, and that communicated with the other
part of the town, in which there did not remain a
single house, was promptly repaired. In the mean-

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9tfOLENSKO. 89

time iJie carahy of general Grouchy, with the fourth
corps, and all their artiUeiy crossed a ford at the
extremity of the suburb by which we entered. In
this interval 1:he other bridges were constructed,
which so accelerated the passage, that the same day
liie artBlery and cavalry of the king of Na[rfes were
on the jDoad to Moscow, in pursuit of the enemy.

All the fourth corps having succeeded in crossing
Ibe river, ^encamped on the heights that surround
the town, near the post road from Porietsch to Pe-
jtersburgh. This was a position of the greatest im-
portance, and every one was astonidbed that the
enemy had not defended it better. Had they made
a stand here, our march would have been consider-
ably retarded ; the principal road to Moscow would
have been .ciit off, nor coirfd we have retained pos-
session of ;the town, which this position completely

commanded, ^lllt^y^

While ithe centre of the afany pursued its trium-
phant career, general Gouvion St. Cyr gained some
important victories on the banks of the Dwina.
After the battle of Drissa, prince Wittgenstein, being
reinforced by twelve battalions, resolved to act on
the offensive against the duke of Reggio (Oudinot.)
The latter, seeing himself on the point of being at-
tacked, united the Bavarian corps (the sixteenth) to
that which he already commanded. The engage-
ment actually took place on the 1 6th and 17th of
August ; but at the moment the duke of Reggio was
taking measures to repel it, a grape shot struck him
in the shoulder, and so dangerously wounded him

12

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90 SMOLSNSKO.

that he was compelled to quit the field of batde^
and to give up the command to general Gouvion
StCyr.

The latter disposed every thing for the attack the
next morning at day break ; and, the better to de-
ceive the Russians, he ordered all thfe baggage, and
a great part of the artillery and cavalry, to ifetire on
the left bank of the Dwina, in sight of the enemy,
and, ascending the river, to repass it at Polotsk
without being seen. The enemy, deceived by this
skilful manoeuvre, believed that we were retreating,
and advanced in pursuit ; but instead of finding us
disposed to quit the ground, we presented ourselves
ranged in order of battle, and our artillery, advanta-
geously placed, commenced a destructive fire on
them. At the same tiftie our infantry, under tte
protection of our cannon, attacked the left and cen-
tre of the corps com mailed by general Wittgen-
stein. The two divisions of generals Wrede and
Roy, having combined their movements with great
braveiy and skill, marched out of Spas together.
The division of Legrand, in position on the left of
this village, was connected with that of general
Verdier, one of whose brigades observed the right
of the enemy ; and the division of Merle covered the
front of the town of Polotsk.

^ The enemy, although surprised at seeing us so
well disposed, advanced with great resolution, con,
fiding in their artillery ; but, towards the evening,
prince Wittgenstein, seeing his centre and his left
forced^ retired in echelon, after furiously defending

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SMOLSNSKO. 91

^0rery position. By this obstinate resistance be suc-
' ceeded in saving his anny, wbidi, notwithstanding
the arrival of powerful reinforcements, endeavored
in vain to resume offensive operations. We should
have taken a great number of prisoners, bad not the
woods facilitated their escape. Those who fell into
our hands had been left woimded on the field of bat-
tle, and by their numbers we were enabled to judge
of the severe loss which the Russians had sustained. *"
Several pieces of cannon added to the trophies of
» this glorious day.

la truth, this victory was dearly purchased by
•the loss of several brave Bavarian officers, especially
,of generals de Roy and Sierbein. The first was par«-
ticularly regretted. The soldiers lost in him a father,
and the officers, a chief whose talents and consum-
mate experience were held in veneration by the whole
Bavarian army. Generals, officeis and soldiers, ri-
valled each other in contributing to the success of the
day. Among the first. Count Gouvion St. Cyr ren*-
dered a just tribute of praise to generals Legrand,
Verdier, (wounded). Merle, Von Wrede and Aubry ;
the latter, who was general of the aitilleiy, particular-
ly distinguished himself in his department. The
count closed his report by invoking the benevolence
of the emperor towards his officers. He thus did
Justice to all except to himself, on which point he ob-
served a profound silence ; but his modesty was the
more conspicuous, and this virtue, which belongs on- •
ly to great minds, was a few days afterwards rewar-
ded on the field of battle with a marshal's staff.

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92 siroLENsro.

While our corps on the left gained these importaBC
victories on the Dwina ; those of the centre distin^
guished themselves in combats no less glerkms.

The Duke of Elchingen (Ney), having passed Urn
Nieper (19th August) above Smolensko, joined th«
king of Naples in pursuit of the enemj. Alter marchK
ing a league, he met part of the rear-guard, consistiBiy
Of six thousand men. Their positifon was earned in
an instant, and the bayonet covered the field ef
battle with their. dead.

This corps which protected the retreat of the RufiH
sians, having been forced hastily to retire^ took post
on the rising ground of Valantina. The first line,
however, was broken by the eighteenth regiment, and
towards four o'clock in the afternoon, a fire of mus-
ketry commenced with the whole rear-guard, then
consisting of fifteen thousand men. The duke of
Abrantes (Junot), who had lost his way on the right of
Smolensko, could not reach the road to Moscow time
enough to cut oif the retreat of the rear guard.* The
first columns of the enemy therefore returned to the
charge, and brought four divisions successively into
the field.^^The Russians were the more interested in
defending this position, as, besides its real strength, it
had always been regarded as impregnable, from the
defeats which the Poles had uniformly sustained here
inrtheir ancient wars. Thence the Russians, super-
stitiously connected with this plain, the idea of cer-
tain victory, and decorated it with the pompous title
fl>f 'the Sacred Field.

* See IStli and 14th bulletins of the campaign.

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snoLEirsKO. 93

if tbe enemy attadied the highest importance to
the {nreseiratioD of this^ position^ it was not of less
moment for us to carry it, that we might be enabled
more effectually to annoy his retreat, and to obtain
possession of all the baggage, and the waggons with
the wounded from Smolensko, the evacuation of
which had been protected by the rear-guard.

At six o^dockinthe evening, the division of Gudin
sent to support the thirteenth corps against the nume-
rous troops w:hich the enemy recalled to his succour,
appeared in column before the centre of the enemy's
position. Supported by the division of Ledrae, they
instantly carried it. The seventh light infantry, the
twelfth, twenty-first, and one hundred and twenty-
serentb, whiph composed the division of Gudin,
charged with such impetuosity that the enemy im-
mediately fled, persuaded they were engaged with
the imperial guards. But so much bravery cost us
the life of the gallant general who commanded them.
He was cme of the most distinguished officers in the
army, and was equally regretted for his private
virtues, and his military skill and intrepidity. His
death, however, was well avenged. His division
made a dreadful carnage of the enemy, who fled
towards Moscow, leaving the Sacred Field covered
with their dead. Among the rest were found the
bodies of generals Skalon and Balla ; and it was
asserted that the general of the cavalry, Koff*, being
mortally Wounded, was considered by the Russians
as a loss equally great with that which we had to
deplore.

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94 SMOLENSKO^

At three o'clock on the morning of the Ibttowing
day, the emperor distributed rewards on the field of
batde to the regiments which had distinguished
themselves. To the one hundred and twentj-sev^^
enth, a new regiment, which had contributed much
to the gloiy of the day, Napoleon granted the right
of canying an eagle; a privilege which they had
not before enjoyed, because they had not been
present in any engagement These rewards, be-
stowed on a spot rendered famous by victory, and in
the midst of the dyii^ and the dead, exhibited a
scene of grandeur that assimilated our exploits to
the heroic deeds of ancient times.

At Smoletisko, the fourth corps changed the chief
of its staff. General De^soles, who had till then
filled that situation, disgusted to see his services
remain unnoticed, desired to enjoy in retirement the
esteem which his talents had procured him. The
army recollecting that he had shared in the gloiy
and the disgrace of Moreau, approved his determi-
nation, well knowing the difficulty which he would
find in obtaining a rank that could put him on a
level with those who had out-stepped him in his ca-
reer, ani who would always be preferred before him.
The emperor yielding to the entreaties of this skil-
ful general, granted him an honourable retreat, and
appointed baron Guilleminot his successor, who
was well known to the viceroy, by having exercised
the same functions for a short time after the battle
of Wagram.

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SMOLENSKO. 95

During the four days that Napoleon remained at
Smolensko, he reviewed the different corps which
had distinguished themselves since the opening of
the campaign. In this respect none was more just-
ly entitled to honourable distinction than the fourth
corps. It was at length granted us, and the chiefs of
each division with the exception of general Pino,
who, with the fifteenth, was gone to Witepsk, receiv-
ed orders to put their soldiers under arms« (22d of
August.)

The whole of our army, in its best accoutrements,
was drawn up on a vast plaiii, a little beyond that on
which we were encamped. Its fine appearance,
and, above all, the recollection of the brilliant affair
of Witepsk, gained our corps the rewards due to its
bi^very, and which were worthy of the munificence
of the chief who deigned to grant them.

It had hitherto been believed, that Napoleon, de-
aurous only to re-establish the kingdom of Poland,
would terminate h\p conquests by the capture of the
two towns of Witepsk and Smolensko, which, by
their position, completely defended the narrow pas-
sage comprised between the Nieper, and the Dwina.
Eveiy one considered these towns as our destined
winter quarters, and if the ambition of our chief had
suffered him to limit the operations of this campaign
to the taking of Riga, the fortifying of Witepsk and
Smolensko, and more particularly, the organization
of Poland, the whole of which be had now conquef-
ed, he would, doubtless, in the following spring, have
forced the Russians either to subscribe to his condi-

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96 JMOLElfSKO.

tiotiAj or to mil the ri^ of the almost cataia ^de-
stmction both of Moscow aad Peter&ft^ur^* Bitf,
instead of adopting so wise a plan, Napoleon, blinded
by excess of proapenHy^ and at a distance of six hun-
dred leagues irom France, with worn-out horses, and
^stitute jof provisions, magazines, or hospitals, veBr
tured upon the great load to Moscow. As a last
proof of his imprudence, he Itifit jfi his rear a Bus^
sisua army, cantoned in Moldavia, and whidb was
ready to march against us on the ratification of tb^
^atj of peace, whicli bad been already comdiuded
with the Porte.

This army having ceased hostilities aigainpt.ihe
Turks, was then commanded by Admirai Tscbilm-
koff, who cori.3tant}y sent firesh troops to rdinforce tbf^
army of Wolbynia, which was qpposed to the corp)$
of prince Scbwarteenberg. Napoleon had flattered
himself that the Austrians, in obedience to his or-
ders, would have repulsed the corps of Tormasow;,
Ertel, and Essen, as effectually as we had beaten that
of Barclay de Tolly, and that consequently, our al-
lies ravaging the Ukrane, would penetrate into the
governments of Kiew, and Kaluga, and join us oa
our entry into Moscow, But the manoeuvres of the
Russian generals fruslarated this great plan. Victoi^
and vanquished, by turns, they defended every posi-
tion ; and taking advantages of the chances of war,
.^ returned continually to the ground which they had
' abandoned. The fortress of Bobru«sk therefore con-
tinued to hold out, and the Austrians never saw the
banks of the Nieper.

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SMOLENSKO. 97

Leaving Smolensko (23d August) we went to
Volodimerowa, a Tillage situated on the main road.
On an eminence to the right, surrounded by marshes,
is a chateau built of^^wood. Arrived on this height,
at a distance of about five leagues from Smolensko
we halted. It was then the intention •of the prince
to march to Doukhovchtchina, and afterwards to fall
back on Doroghobouf, where the centre of the grand
army was quartered ; but general Grouchy, who
had preceded us with his cavalry, announced that he
had repulsed the enemy more than twenty leagues.
The viceroy (24th August) who could now dispense
with pushing on to Doukhovchtchina, determined to
search for a path that would conduct him straight to
the high road leading to Doroghobouv. He found
this route after following an excellent load, traced
by the Russians themselves, in effecting their retreat.
On this march we traversed a fertile and luxuri-
ant country. We saw, for the first time in Russia,
cattle grazing in the fields, inhabitants remaining
undisturbed in their villages, and houses that had
not been plundered. The soldier, possessing abun-
dsmce, forgot his fatigues, and regarded not the
length of his march which continued several
hours. At length, towards the evening we arrived
at Pologhi, a village at a small distance from the
road which we were seeking; On the following
morning (26th of August) we crossed the Wop, a
small river that would have attracted our attention
more, could we have foreseen how fatal it would one
day prove to us. We might, however, have formed

13

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98 I^MOLENSKO.

an idea of what it would be in winter, from tfie
difficulty we found in passing it in the midst of
summer. Its bed was very deep, and the banks so
steep, that the artillery cro^sei^it with great diffi-
culty and only by doubling the number of holBes to
each piece-
Continuing our route we again came in sight of
tlie Nieper, whose marshes covered with wood near-
ly reached the hill on which lay the road we sou^t
Proceeding about a league we perceived the high
tiurets of the beautiful chateau of Zazele, appearing
at a distance like a considerable tpwn. Close by
was a lake, where the cavahy of general Grouchy
refreshed themselves. They had arrived before us
and were encamped round the chateau of Zb:U16.

The viceroy despatched some officers from this
place to Napoleon, who was at Doroghobou' ; buty
although General Grouchy had pushed his advanced
guard along the high road, we doubted whether it
were cleared as far as that town. The aids-de-camp,
therefore, crossed the Nieper below Zazd^, and pur-
suing the post road from Smolensko, they arrived
safe at DoroghobouV, where the staflF of the grand ar-
my had established their head^quartteis.

This town^ situated on an eminence, ofiered k
military position capable of effei^tually stopping %the
progress of an army marching on the two high
roads from Smolensko to Moscow. Yet, notwith-
standing these advantages, it was very feebly defen-
ded owing to the great losses which the Russians
had sustained in the battles of Smolensko and Val-^

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SMOLENSKO. 99

ontina. Our corps was entering Doroghobouv,
when an aid-de-camp from Napoleon brought des-
patches to the viceroy. Having read them, the
prince gave orders to select the most advantageous
situation in the neighborhood to encamp his divis-
ions. The want of water having obliged us to push
on to Mikailovskoe, we established ourselves near
this village. The cavaliy was in the rear, the
infantry of the royal guard in the centre ; and, on
the flanks, were tfie two French divisions, which
formed part of our corps.

At a league from Mikailovskoe (27th August)
we passed through two villages, situated in a marshy
valley. Shortly after, we entered the plain through
which runs the Nieper, and followed the road to
Blaghovfe, where we intended to cross the river. On
our right were some cultivated hills, with several
villages. The smoke issuing from this houses made
us conjecture that they had not been abandoned.
We saw at a distance their peaceaWe inhabitants
standing on the summit of the hills anxiously ob-
serving whether we came to trouble the peace of
their cottages.

The sources of the Nieper not being far distant, the
river is here little larger than a brook. We forded it
with ease, an4 the artillery had no other difficulty
than to climb its banks, which, like all the rivei^s of
Russia, are extremely steep and high, to contain the
great masses of water produced by the melting of the
snow.

The viceroy always present at the passage of a

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100 SMOLENSKQ.

liver, did not quit this till all the troops had crossed.
The fourth coips still forming the extreme point , of
the left of the grand army, we marched over almost
unbeaten tracks* To prevent our wandering, the
prince ordered general Triaire, commanding the ad-
vanced-guard, to post dmgoons along the road* This
vme precaution proved beneficial to the detachments^
and especially to the straggler^, who* now, having no
doubt which road they ought to pur^e, arrived all
safely at Agopochina. Before this measure was
adopted, these unhapy beings, when left in the rear
from fatigue and sickness, found themselves in the
midst of thick forests, or qii immense plains inter-
sected by numerous patfa^, all equally ^beaten, and >
not knowing the language of the country, nor meet-
ing with a single person to direct them^ they wan-
dered about in these vast solitudes, and perished, ■>
sooner or later, by &mine, fatigue, or the sword of
the enemy.

The village of Agopochina, where we halted, is •
remarkable for a large chateau^ and a noble church
built of stone. The four sides are ornamented with
peristyles. The sanctuary, constructed according to
the Greeks ritual, is very rich, and adorned with
several paintings, which reminded us of those which
the Greeks brought from Constantinople, when, i^
the fourteenth centuiy, they fir^t established their
^chools in Italy. From this village, the comman-
dant Sewlinge, who had lately joined our staff, was
sent with important despatches to the king of Naples.
The king not having received thesie despa;tches, and

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SMOL£NSKCK 101

the commandant never returning, we felt the painful
conviction that he had fallen into the hands of the
Cossacks.

The next , day, (28th August) we continued to
flank the left of the high road marching always near-
ly in a line with a corps of the centre. The track
wWch we followed had never before been traversed
by an army. It was narrow, cut by frequent ravines,
and often so contracted, that it resembled a path, tra-
ced iherely to divide the grounds; Arrived at a vil-
lage the name of which was unknown, we found three
roada; one straight before us, one on our right, and a
third on our left. We followed the latter, which
conducted u?, after a march of three hours, to an
abandoned chateau^ within a league of B^reski.

Early in the morning (29th August) we left this
chateau, in a thick fog. The frequent halts which
the viceroy made, and the reconnoitering parties which
he sent to the right, as if to listen whether cannon
were firing on the high road, convinced us that he
was impatient to know whether Napoleon met with
any obstacles in his march.

We £^proached Viazma. This small town,
which, in Russia may be reckoned a great one, was
in a very advantageous situation for the enemy,
being situated among the numerous branches of the
river Viazma. It is surrounded by ravines, and
stands on a beautiful eminence, commanding the
plain and the defile, through which passes the high
road from Smolensko. The jRussians did not profit
jnuch by these advantages ; they but feebly defended

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102 3MOLENSKO«

the place, and, after a slight resistance, set fire to the
principal buildings and retired. When we arrived|
Viazma was a prey to the flames ; and, although ac-
customed to conflagratioiiis, we could not help regard-
ing with pity, this unhappy town, so lately peopled
by ten thousand inhabitants. Though newly found-
ed, it contained more than sixteen churches. The
houses, all new, and elegantly constructed, were en-
veloped in clouds of smoke, and their destruction ex-
cited greater regret, as they were the noblest which
we had seen since we quitted Smolensko.

The viceroy halted on the plain more than two
hours. Placed on a rising ground we observed dis-
tinctly the progress of the flames, and heard the guns
firing on the enemy beyond the town. A numerous
cavalry, which arrived from every quarter, encamped
in the environs. Prince Eugene, having received
the emperor's orders, now passed the little river
Viazma, which runs by the town of the same name ;
and proceeding to the left, he overtook the troops
which he had sent before him, and whose march had
been retarded )yj the passage of the Viazma. We
met with yet another branch of the Viazma, the ap-
proach to which was so muddy, that it was impossi-
ble to ford it at any point. It was therefore necessa-
ry to march along th€f bank till %ve found a wretch-
ed bridge by which we crossed the river. Hence we
came to a Uttle hill, from the top of which we per-
ceived at a distance a beautiful chateau^ consisting
of four pavilions, and a noble church. On entering
it, we learned that the village was called Novoe, and

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SMOLENSKO. 103

^t the chateau had been plundered by the light
cavalry.

We halted in this village (30th August) having on
our left the royal guards, and the fourteenth division,
with the thirteenth in front The artille<y of these
divisions was placed in batteries facing the different
roads on which it was possible that the enemy
might appear.

As we commenced our march (3 1st August) we
were rejoined by the Bavarian cavalry under general
Preysing. The viceroy and the stajff accompanied
us. We saw on the road two neat chcUeaux com-
pletely ravaged. We halted at the second, and
passed through a delightful garden with beautiful
walks tastefully arranged. The pavilions had been
newly decorated, but they offered now an image of
the most frightful desolation. The furniture was
broken to pieces; fragments of the most precious
china were, scattered, about the garden, and many
exquisite paintings had been torn from thdr frames,
and were dispersed by the winds.

The viceroy had pushed his march beyond the
chateau of Pakrovo ; but observing that the infantry
was far in the rear, he returned to the chateau in
wMch some provisions were found, and especially a
quantity of oats in the straw, and excellent forage.

Since the affair at Witepsk, the fourth corps had
not met the enemy, and had not even seen any
of those detachments of cossacks which, in the first
Polish campaign, continually harrassed our troops,
and intercepted the ^^baggage ; but after we passed

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104 SM0L£N9K0<»

Viazma, more circumspection was necessary on ou*
march. ^

Although the enemy had not presented himself,
to observe our movements, we were nevertheless
certain that he would soon appear ; and, the next day
(1st September) being about halfway on our accus-
tomed march, our cavalry was stopped by the cos-
sacks. Two or three cannon-shot were the signal
of this rencontre. The viceroy immediately put the
cavalry of the Italian guards in order ot battle, pre-
ceded by a considerable number of sharp-shooters.
These drove before them the enemy's squadrons,
who retired in proportion as we advanced, without
opposing any resistance. They continued to retreat
as far as Ghiat, of which the emperor had just taken
possession. Above this town is a small river, which
they crossed, and immediately, as if to observe us,
drew up in order of battle on an eminence that com-
mands the plain by which we arrived. The viceroy
after having made me reconnoitre the fords which
might facilitate the passage of the river, ordered the
Bavarian troops to cross ^jt at a point that had been
explored and which was exactly between two little
villages occupied by the cossacks. The enemy
however, no sooner perceived this movement, than
they abandoned the villages and the heights, of
which the Bavarian cavalry, followed by their artil-
lery, soon took possession. Arrived on these heights
we saw the enemy flying on all sides. They were
closely pursued ; but as night approached, our corps

SM0LEN8K0. 105

established itself ii^ the little village of Paulsvo, at
the distance of half a league from Ghiat

Tlie emperor having passed three days in this
town, we halted likewise at Paulovo and Woremiewo
.(2d and 3d September.) Here the emperor, in the
general orders of the day, granted some repose to the
troops, which he commanded them to employ in
collecting provisions, in cleaning their arms, and pre-
paring for the battle which the enemy seemed wil-
ling to accept Lastly, the marauding detachments
were ordered to return on the foUomng. evening, if
they wished to participate in the honour of the en-
gagement- *^

14

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BOOK nr.ik\|

THE MOSKWA.

AFTER the capture of Smolensko, the emperor
Napoleon was not ignorant that Russia, having con-
cluded a peace with the Turks, would soon have the
whole of the Moldavian army at her disposal : nev-
ertheless, he followed up his successes without dis-
quieting himself respecting the {uture» But the
news which he received at Ghiat, that general Ku-
tusoff, the renowned conqueroj^f the Ottoman
power, had arrived from the banks of the Danube^
and taken the command of the Russian army, ,
hitherto under the orders of count Barclay de Tolly,
ought to have convinced him that he would soon be
attacked.

This generiil, who was regarded by the Mosco-
vites as the hope of their countiy, arrived at Czar^vo-
Saimiche, (29th August.) The officers and soldiers
hailed as their chief this venerable warrior, already
celebrated in the annals of Russia ; and the inhabi-
tants of Ghiat informed us that the sight of him had
inspired the army with hope and joy. In fact, he
had scarcely arrived, when he announced that the
Russian army would retreat no further. That he
might better defend Moscow, within fourdavs march
of which we were now arrived, he chSsSa strong

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108 THE MOSKWA^

position between Ghiat and Moja^sk, where he coiilcT
advantageously await one of those decisive battles
which often determine the fate of empires. Each
party was sanguine in its expectation of victory.
The Moscovites contended for their country, their
homes, and their children. Our soldiers, accustom-
ed to conquer, and filled with those giand and heroic
ideas, which continued success naturally inspires,
eagerly demanded the fight ; and such is the superi-
ority that courage gives over mere numbers, that on
the eve of the batfle we calculated what, on the mor-
row, would be the fruits of our approaching victory.
During the stay of Napoleon at Ghiat^ our head-
quarters were transported from Paulovo- to Wore-
miewo, where was a beautiful seat, belonging to
prince KutusofT. The staff had just entered the
village, when the viceroy, accompanied by several
' officers, arrived to examine the environs of the place*
Scarcely ha^ he been gone a quarter of an hour^
when he discovered that the whole plain was filled
with Cossacks, who advanced as if they would charge
the group that surrounded the prince Eugene ; but
on seeing some dragoons, who formed his escort^
they fled precipitately, and appeared no more in the
neighbourhood of Woremiewo.

While we remained in this village, some soldiers
of the hundred and sixth regiment, going, on a fora-
ging party, fell in with a post chaise occupied by a
Russian officer and surggon ; the former on being in-
terrogated by an officer of the staff, declared that he
came from Riga, his native country, and was going

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TH£ MOSKWA. 109

to the head^quarters of Kutusoff, who had for some
days superceded Barclay de Tolly. Although this
officer was descended firom a good Lavonian family,
asd was decorated with several crosses and medals,
the viceroy would not see him, justly suspecting that
he had purposely exposed himself to discover our
manoeuvres. Several peasants who were surprised
on an unfrequented road, and particulady in the
neighborhood of Mojajsk, where the enemy had in-
trenched themselves, almost reduced this suspicion
to a certainty.

Having passed two days at Woremiewo, we left
it on the 4th of September, and passed through some
forests, where they informed us the cossacks had been
seen. The reports of the advanced-guard confirm*
ing this news, caused the viceroy to halt in an exten-
sive plain,* where our whole corps was assembled.
The prince, placing himself at the h^ad of the cav-
alry, ordered the infantry to follow, while the guard,
placed as a reserve, brought up Ihe rear. In this
order we advanced to meet the enemy. When we
reached the httle.village of Louzo^, we found our-
selves impeded by a rivulet. The cossacks, who
were assembled on the opposite side, appeared to be
forming themselves into squadrons to oppose our pas-
sage ; but the viceroy ordering the cavalry to mount
the ravine, the Russians, fearing lest they should be
charged in the rear, fled with precipitation.

On gaining the heights, we discovered before us
several villages on fire, and he^ng a brisk cannon-
ade, we imagined that we were not far from the road

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110 THE MOSKWA.

which Napoleon had taken. Near the post-house^
called Ghridneva, was another immense ravine that
crossed the main road ; and on the opposite side
was a steep hill, on which the Russians had estab-
lished some batteries, after an obstinate engagement
which had taken place there during the day.

When the enemy perceived that the fourth corps
was forming on their right, they despatched a riumeir-
ous cavalry to reconnoitre our position, which re-
tired when our artillery opened upon them. This
cavp'rv a| p^ are 1 for a moment disposed to maintain
itself on the edge of a wood ; the viceroy, therefore^
ordered colonel Rambourg, of the third Italian chas-
seurs, to march upon that point, and bring, them to
action. The cossacks observed this movement
without being intimidated ; and when the chasseurs
were on the point of charging them, they rushed
from the wood, crying ' Houra ! houra !'— a cry^
since become too celebrated, and which these bar-
barians always use when they attack their enemies.
The Italian chasseurs received them with great
coolness. The actiop was smart, but of no dura-
tion, for the cossacks seeing the Bavarian light-horse
advance, quitted the field, leaving some prisonerg
in our possession.

The Russians, nevertheless, maintained their po-
sitions on the summit of the hill, whence they kept
up a galling fire on us as we advanced. Several
bullets fall among a group of officers who surroun-
ded the prince. We succeeded, however, in passing
.the ravine in spite of all opposition, and effected our

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tHS M09S:WA. 11 1

jjtinction, with the advanced-guard of the grand
army, commanded by the king of Naples, We
distinguished that monarch from afar by bis white
plume, as stationed at the head .of his troops, be ani«
mated them to the combat by his own example.

As soon as the viceroy was informed that the
king of Naples was there, he went to concert with
him the necessary dispositions. The place of their
conference was not changed, and both of them dis-
coursed with the utmost sang-froid, though exposed
to the fire of the batteries, and seeing those around
them falling every minute by the shot of the enemyJ

At the approach of night we returned to Louzos,
ivhere we had no other shelter than some misemble
barns, covered with thatch. Hunger redoubled our
sufferings, and we had noting to satisfy its cravings.
The surrounding hamlets, which had been sacked by
the Cossacks, could yield us no relief. At the same
time we were close to the intrenched camp of Mo-
ja%k, where Kutusoff hoped to accomplish our de-
feat ; and this he would certainly havg^j^ected, if
he could have detained us a few days before his for-
mid^bleUnes. IgT^^ ij^ ^^^9

The positiotr^f'unnSneTO^^^
had defended on the preceding evening, was evacu-
ated during the night. The king of Naples, ardent
in pursuit (6th September) rapidly advanced. The
fourth corps, which continued to flank the left wing
of the army, always kept at the distance of about a
league from the main road. On leaving a wood in-
fested by the cossacks, wepasaedJhrouffh a village

wepasaedJhrouffh

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112 THE H08XWA.

that had been pillaged by these barbarians. The
hoirible desolation which marked their career enar
bled us easily to follow their steps. Being arrived
at the foot of a hill, we discovered some of th^
squadi^ns on the top, ranged in order of battlQ,
round a noble chateau^ which overlooked the neigh-
boring plains. The viceroy immediately oardered
the Bavarians to advance on this point, who, notwith-
standii^ the difficulties of the country, reached the
summit in the greatest orden As our allies advanc-
ed, the enemy retired ; and/as they descended the
other side of the hill, our artillery-men directed upon
them the cannon which had^ been planted on the ter-
race of the chateau. We pursued them throu^ the
wood, and being airived at an jopen place, we saw
long columns of Russians defiling, who, pursued by
our troops, took up a position on an extensive plain
at the summit of a hiU about half a league distant,
. and where it was said^ prince Kutusoff intended to
ha2;ard a decisive battle. On our right^ we saw,
below us, the abbey of Kolotsko*. f The massy
towers of this building gave it the appearance of a
town.| The colored tiles, with which it was cover-
ed, reflected the rays of the sun through the thick
dust caused by our immeme cavalry, and served to
heighten still more, the gloomy and savage aspect
which the whole surrounding country preseirted.
The Russians intending to arrest our progress here,
had devastated in the most frightftil manner, all the
plain, on which we were forced to ^ncamp. The
com, though yet green, had been cut, the woods des-

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tHB M08KWA.' 1 13

tioyedy n^ihe villages biumt In a wotd, we found
no food (or oior hoises, and no shelter for ourselves.

We hatted on a hiU« During this time the centre
1^ the army vigorously pursued the enemy, and obli-
ged them to retire upon the eminence which they
had intrenched. We remained inactive till nearly
two o'clock in the aiftemoon ; when the viceroy, fol-
lowed only by his staff, reconnoitred the approaches
to the Russian position* He had scarcely commen-
ced, when our drs^oons, placed as shaip-shooterar,
announced the approach of Napoleon. Immedi-
ately the name of the 6mperor passed from mouth
to mouth, and every one awaited his arrival with
the greateirt impatience. He soon made baa appear-
ance followed by bis principal officers, and took his
:station on an eminence whence he could easily com-
mand the whole c^mp of the enemy. After having
iong and attentively regarded their position, and
carefnlly observed all the adjacent country, he be-
gan to hum some insignificant tune. He then con-
versed a moment with the viceroy, and, mounting
his horse, be went to consuH the prince of Eckmuhl
(D^voust.)

The viceroy how ordered the thirteenth and fom:-
teendi divisionB to advance. The Italian guard,
which had been left in Hate rear, was placed in re-
serve. These two divisions had sciurcely reached
the eminence whence they could altack the Rusdans^
when a brisk fire of musketry commenced on our
right between the sdiarp-shooter's of Gerard's divis-
ion (third division, first coips) and those of the ene-
' / 16

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¥14 tH£ nnoftKWA.

ifiy. At first oiir troops advanced close to t6e la*
>ine ivhich separated us from the enemy ; but su-^
perior numbers obliged them to retire.

The Russians had a redoubt towards the right
extremity of our army^ tlie destructive fire of which
carried consternation through our railks^ They had
constructed it to fortify their 1^ wing, which wasi
the weakest part of their intrenched camp. Napo-
leon understood this, and saw the necessky of taking;
that redoubt* This honour was confined to Corn-
pan's division (fourth division, first corps) and these
gallant men advanced to the attack^, with an intre^
pidity which ensured the succiqss^ of the efiterprise*
In this interval, prince PoniatowsM mameuvred oib
our right with his cavalry, in ordeir to turn the posi^
tion; and when he was at a convenient distance^
Compan's division attacked the redoubt, and siic^
ceeded in carrying it after an hours^^ %hting. The
enemy, completely^ routed, abandoned the neigh*
liiouring woods, and retreating in disorder towardal
the principal esunence, rejoined- the centre of their
army.

Tiie division of Compan, in proving itself worthy
^ the brilliant enterprise with which it was intrust-
ed, purchased that honour with considerable loss*^
The acqufskien of this important position cost us
the lives of one thousand two hundred of our men,
^ore than half of whom remained dead in the in-
trenchments, which they had so gloriously carried.
The next morning, as Napoleon was reviemng the*
SXty-^iuBt regiment which had suffered most he adt-

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THE MCSKWAt 116

«d the cdonel what he bad done widi one of fais bat--
talioos : ' Siae/ replied he, ^ i^ 15 in the redwbt.'^

The possessKHj^ of the redoubt did not in the least
^d^^jzuae the soccers of the battle. Befoie the gen-
eial engagement began, Napoleoft wished to gain a
positioiiiKi the otiber 9ide of the river which separa^
fM»d ys ironi the enemy« Thick undenvood
cMcealed their nua»eio«8 Bha^* sbboters, and ren*
4ered the approach as difficult as it was daar
gerouB. But our courageous light troops recom-
lao^nced the attack with redoubled vigour ; and
aUhough the day was nearljr dosed, the £re on both
«sides continued with equal furx« At the sanle time,
several villages on fire to the li^^ s{»ead around a
frightful ^are. The cries of the camhatants, and the
^flames wli^ we«e i^omited &Qm a thousand braa^a
mouthy and which carried every where desolation
iaad death, tcomplieted the horror ^ the scene. Our
CQips, ranged in or4au^ batUe, received with intre*-
fadity the &Ee of the enemy, and coolly ^closed the
:mnks, as soon as a cannon-ball had laid any of jlheir
^comrades low. ~

In the oinean fwe, the night becoming more ob-
^cuze, aba^ jthe fire without abating oua: ardor ; for
in of hie aim, thought it better lo re-
I and his jqutumunition for the morrow^
«Scarcely had we c^^a^ed firin g, wh en the Russians,
encamped as it were on an ampliitheSre, lighted
innumerable fires. The whole of their camp was
<one interrppted blaze of light, which, while it
j[g:esenteda grand and sublime appoaraiice, formed a.

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UB ras MosKWi*

etsHdng cotitnBt mthoarbnroiiac, wfaeietfie aoUfaii,
deprived c^ wood, reposed in utter darkness, and.
h^ud no sound but Hie groans of the wounded

The viceroy caused hb tent to be erected on the
spot where the Italian guard were pbced in reserve.
Couched in the underwood, we akpt aouidly after
the fatigues of the day, in afiile of an impetuous
wind, and a rain excesnvdj caUL Towards two
o'clock, I was awakened by the chief of our staffs who
informed me that the emperor wished Ant a fdan.of
the ground which we had occupied the precediqg
evening. I transmitted it to prim:e Eugene, who
immediately sent it to Napoleon.! The next morn-
ing at day-break (6th of S^tenroer,) the viceroy
ordered me to cmnplete the plan by inspecting the
whole line, and a{^NX)aclui^ as near the enemy as
I possibly could, that I mi^t the better discover
the exact nature of the giound on which they were
encamped, and especially to observe whether there
were any masked batteries, or ravines unknown to
us.*

After these instructions, I advanced, and discov-
ered that the Russian camp was situated behmd the
river Kdogha, upon a narrow eminence, and that its
left was veiy much weakened by the loss of the
redoubt, which we had taken the evening before. In
front of the camp, anjl opposite to us, was the vilr

* The plan, which will be found here, has heen engraved after thai whicli
the viceroy used on the day of battle.

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!lil£ MOSKWA. 117

lage ei Bofodino, an extremely* strong position,*
situated at the confluence of a little rivulet, mth the
Kologha. Upon this eminence were two grand
yedoubts, about two hundred tenses from each other.
That on the right had fired on us the evening
before ; that on the left was built on the ruins of a
viHage, which they had destroyed &x that puipose.
^his redoubt communicated with Borodino, by
three bridges, constructed upon the Kolo^a. Thus,
this village, and ^e rivulet which was in front,
served the enemy for his first line.

Upon the extremity of our left, the Italian cavahry
had crossed the riviUet of Borodino ; but this vil-
lage, placed on an eniinence, was defended by a
numerouscorps4>fRudliiffli troops. All this ground
-was expo^d to the fire of their grand redoubts^ as
well as^ under that of several smaller masked batteries
along the river. As f<»r our right, they knew tliat our
success the evemng before, had enabled us to cross
the Kdogha^at this point, and to push forward
the greater part of our troops to the rear of the ^ emi«

* Napoleon said in his bulletin of the battle of Moskwa, •The viceroy,
who formed our left, attacked and took the village of Borodino, which the
enemy ooali not def«ly^/ Mnc« Ktitilsoiii cm the contrary, wrote to the
emperor Alexander, ' The position which I have chosen in the village of
Borodino, is one of the best that can be found in a flat country. It is to be
wished, that the French would attack u« irt this position.* We made the
attack, and the village was so well defended, that general Plausanne* and
iDolonel Deroay> of the artillery^ officers of our corps, were kiU«d in the comr
- roencement of the action. The Russians have given to this bloody day, the
puneoftheBA¥TJUB OF BososxNo*

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118 THE M09KWA.

neiice, oo which was placed the enemy^s pjoaa^vpA
redoubt

We pa^aed the rest of the day ia reconnoitring
the position of the Russians. General Danthouax4
caused the redoubts, nvhich were placed too much
in the rear to be teconstructed ; and on the left^
they likewise threw up some epaulments, wher#
cann<m might be placed in baUeiy. In fact, all was
prepared for a decisive engagement, when, towards
erening, the emperor sent a prociamatioa to thf
ichiefs of the corps, with orders not to read it to tb#
soldiers till the next day, should they then come to
action ; for although the position was both advanta*-
geouf and strong, the enemy had so often declined
giving battle, that it was to foe feared they woiddL
again act as they had done at Witep^, and Valonr
jdna. Here, however, they were forced to coine
lo action, if they would siave Moscow, from which
we were distant h^t thi^y^y's inarch. In addition
to this, the fati^e of our soldiers, and the exhaus-
tion of our horses, seamed to promise to ^e Rus-
sians an easy victory^ On the other hand, we were
well assured that we must either conquer or perish ;
and this idea inspired us all with such jcourage, that
in spite of the numbers of the R)lssia^ acmy^ and
their impregnable intrenchments, we regarded our
entrance into Moscow c^s certain and near at hand.

Although worn out with fatigue, we felt tlie
want of sleep ; there were many among us, so ena*
moured of glory, and so flushed mth the hope of
the morrow's success, that they were absolutely io^

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ttrt MOSKWA* 119

€Q{iable of fepose. As thej passed the wakeful
houis, and the silence and daikness of midnight
a^ole upon them, while the fires of the sleeping sol**
diers, now almost extinct, threw their last rays of
fight over the heaps of arms piled around, they gare
themselves up to profound meditation. They re-
iected on the wonderful events of our strange expe-
diticm ; they mused on the result of a battle which
was to decide the fate of two powerful empires ;
they compared the silence of the night with the tu*
nidt of the morrow : {bey fancied that death was
now hovering over their crowded ranks^ but the dark-
ness of the ni^t prevented them from distinguish*
ing who woidd be the unhappy victims : they then
thought of their parents,^ their couitfry ; and the un-
certainty whether they should ever see diese belov-
ed objects again, plunged them into the deepest mel-^
ancholy^KBut suddenly, before day-break, the beat
of the drum was heard, the officers cried to arms^
the inen eagerly rushed to their different stations,
And all, in order for battle,^ awaited the signal for
action. The colonels, placing* themselves in the
centre of their regiments ordered the trumpet to
;Sound, and every captain, surrounded by his compa-
njj read aloud the following proclamation :*—

^ SOLBIERS,

' This is the battle so much desired hj you.
The victoiy depends on yourselves. It is now ne-
cessary to us. It will give us abundance, good
winter-quarters, and a prompt return to our coun-

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130 THS BfOSKWj& \^

try ! Behave as at Austeiiitz, at Fiiedland, at W|^
tepsky at SmoleDskO) and let the^ latest posterity
lecoant mih piide, your ccoiduet oa Ihis day ; 1^
them say of you,«-«^ He was at the great battle uii4bi
the walls of Moscow."

Every one was penetrated with the tni&s con^
tained in these en^etic words^ and replied to them
by reiterated acdanuitioas* Some . were anims^d
by the love of 'n^oiy, oth^B flattered by the hdpe of
reward, but all were convinced that in^rim;^ neces-
sity compelled us to conquer or to die. To the sen-
timeM of self preservation, were added ideas q€
duty and of vakmr. Every heart was aranai^d,
every breast proudly swelled, and each flattered
himself that this importsuit day might place him in
the rank of those privikged men, who were born to
excite the envy of their cotemporaries, and the adr
miration of posterity.

Such were the feelings of ^e army,, when a radi-
ent sun, bursting from the tiiickest fog, shone for the
last time on many of us. It is reported that aA this
sight, Napoleon exclaimed *to tljose arcmnd him,
' Thfere is the sun of Austerlitz.' The acti<Hi was
on the point of commencing, the armies were in
si^t of each other, the cannoniers at their pieces,
and all awaited in anxious silence the signal (d
attack. At last (7th September), at.six o'clock pre-
cisely, the fibdng of a cannon fiom oitr principal batr
tery, announced that we weve engaged.* Immedi-

4^ •See,th^pk|ioftbftfi«ldofl^afeae.

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1*aE HOSSWA.

hi

aielj our thirteenth diTislon mttrched upon the vil«
lage of Borodino, to which the enemy had alread]^
aet fire. Our troofifs then crossed therivulet, andarf*
nved at the village. Orders had been given, that
they should confine thems^es to the occupation ot
this position ; but, carried awiiy l^ the enHnisiasm
natiual to Frenchmen, they crossed the river Ko-
iogha, and took possession of one of the bridges
which consected the village with the eminence. It
was then that genetal Plaiisanne, wishing to mode-
rate the ardor of the soldiers of the one hundred
mkd sixth, ran to the bridge to recal them, when a
ball struck him in the middle of his body. Beloved
during his life, his death 'was sincerely regretted.
On this occasion the bmvery of the ninety-second
regiment deserves the highest praise. Seeing that
the one hundred and sixth had ventured too far, it
crossed the bridge of Borodino, and hastened to the
succour of that regiment, which, indeed, without its
aid must ii^vitably have been destroyedL

While the thirteenth division possessed itself of
Bc»ro^o, the fourteenth, crossing the Kologha un-
der the eminence, lodged itself in a ravine near the
principal redoubt, whence the ei^my poured a hor^
rible fire. On this day the viceroy, besides his o?vn
corps, had under his orders the divisioi^ of Gerard
and Morand, forming the first and third of the fiirst
corps. At eight o'clock Momnds division which
had been already engaged, and finrmed the right
extreme of the fourth corps, was warmly attacked at
the moment that it was preparing to march upon

16

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l2Sr THE MOSKWA,

the redoubt, a movement, which ought to have beeir
immediately seconded by Gerard's division. Never^
theless, while Gehe^l Morand sustained the efforts^
^the enemy's lines, he detached npon his left Ae
tiiirtieth regiment, to take possession of the redoubt*.
This position being* carried, our artillery crowned
the heights, and seized the advantage which for
more than two hours the Russians had over ns.
The gtms, to whose destructive fire we had been ex-
posed during the attack, were now turned against the
<^nemy, and the battle was lost to the Russians when
they imagined that it was but just begun. Part of
their artillery was taken, and the rest retreated to the
rear. In this^ extremity, prince Kutusoff saw that
every thing was lost. Yet determined to make one
effort more, and to maintain the reputation which he
had acquired by the service of half a century, he
renewed the combat, and attacked with aH his forces
the strong positions he had just lost. Three hundred
pieces of cannon, now arranged on- these heights,
spread devastation and death among his ranks, and
his disheartened soldiery perished at the feet of those
ramparts which they had themselves raised, and
which they regarded as the bulwark of Moscow^
their venerable and sacked city.^^^iL |^p##
The thirtieth regiment, attacked oa every side
was unaMo to keep the i:e4oubt which it had carried,
not being stipported by the third division, scarcdy
yet drawn up in order of. battle. This gallant regi-
ment, commanded by generdi Bonami, was therefore
Constrained to yield to the superior force which overr

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. THE MOSKWA. ^^

^^helmed it, and rejoined its division with the Idss of
its general. That division, with general Gerard?6,
continued to maintain itself on the hill, and to with-
stand the utmost efforts of the Russian^.

The enemy^ encouraged by the success he had
Just obtained, brought forward his reserve, with the
hope of striidng a decisive blow ; it was partly com-
posed of the imperial guard. With all his fbrccB
concentrated, he attacked our centre, on which oin-
right had now wheeled. For a moment we feared
4:hat our lines would have been broken, and that we
should have lost the redoubt we had gained the
preceding evening ; but general Friand coming up
with twenty-four pieces of cannon, ^uiaested iheir
progress, mowMg down rankus at a time, who contin-
ued two hours exposed to a fire of grape shot, neith^
er daring to advance, nor willing to recede. While
they remained in this uncertainty, we profited by it
to snatch from them a victory which they had cour

«idered as their ^^!^f^pkm',fi^ f$lf\

The viceroy seized tiBs decsisivS^momeiir, and,
flyingto the right, ordered a simtiltaneous attack of
the grand redoubt^ by the first, third, and fourteenth
divisions. Having arranged aU tbisee in order of bat-
tlie, these troops advanced with cool intrepidity.
They approachedjeven theintrenchmentsof the ene-
my, when a sudden discharge of grape-shot from thi^
whole of thteir artillery spread destruction and con-
sternation through oiu: ranks. Our troops were atagr
gered at this fatal reception ; but the prince knew
how to reanimate their spirits, by calling to the re-

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124 THE MOSKWA*

icofiectioa of each legiinent the circumstances in
which the J badformerlj covered themselves with
gloiy. To one he said, * Preserve thot courage
which has gaioed you the titleof Invincible ;' to an-
other, ' Remember,.ypur reputation dqieads on this
day ;' then timiing towards the ninth c^ the line, he
said to them with emotifin, ^ Brave soldiers, remem*
ber you were with nae at Wa^ram whw we broke
the enemy's centre.' By these words, and still more
*l)y his example, he inflamed the valow of his troops
to such a degree, that, shouting viith joy, they agaio
marched with ardoiur to the recfeubt. His highness,
riding along the Une, arranged the attack with the
utmost coolness, a^d led it himself, at the head <^
Broussier's division. At the same instant a divis-
ion of cuirassiers, from the centra of the army^
rushed on the redoubt, and offered to our astonished
sight, a grand and sublime spectacle** The whole
eminence, which overhung us, appeared in ^n im
stant admass of moving iron : the glittei: of the arms,
and the rays of the sun, reflected from tlie helmets ai^
cuirasses, pf the drs^oons, minted with the flames o(
the cannon, that on every side vomited fordi death,
gave to the i;edoubt the appearance of a volcano in
$he midst of the army.

The enemy's infantry, placed near this point, be?

hind a ravine, kept up so destructive a fire cm oiu

cuirassiers, that they were ol;>hged immediately td

, retire. Our in&ntry took their place ; and, turning

^ Se« Hie {dm of tlue add of bMUe.

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THE H03KWA* 126

&e ledoobt to the right and left^ recommenced a fu«
rioud combat with the Russians, whose efforts ii?al^
led our own.

The viceroy and his staff, in spite of the enemy's
tren^endous fire, reinained at ttie head of Brouasier'^
dirision, ibliowed by the thirteenth and thirtieth re^
giments. They advanced' on the redoubt, and enter^
ing it by the breast-wofk,« massacred on their pieces
the cannoniers that served them* Prince Kutusoff,
who had witnessed this attack, immediately ordered
the cuhassiers of the guard to advance andendeav-
pur to retake the portion. These were the best of
their cavalry. The ^ock between their cuirassiers
and ours was therefore terrible ; and one may judge
pf the fiiry mUh which both parties fiMight, when the
enemy, in quitting the field, left it completely cover*
#d with deadf In the midst of this frightful en-
eountre, ever ^rious for the staff of the fourth corpse
the young ^lint Marcdlin de Fontanes was wounded
He was one of the first who entered the redoubt^ an4
Itec^^ed a stroke firom a sabre on the nape of hi*
lieck. This wcmnd procured him the cross of the
le^on of hoiK>ur, bestowed <» the field of battle— a
recompense the mcune Mattering to him, as he was
only old enough to entertain the expectation of mei^
iting it at some future period.
. The ioterior of the redoubt presented a horrid
lecture, llie dead wei^ heaped on one another^
The feeble cries of the wounded were scarcely heard
amid the sunounding tumult Arms of every des-
cription were scattered ovar the field of battle. The

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126 THE MOSKWA.

parapets, half demolished,- had their embrasures erf-
tirelj destroyed. TTieir pl^-ces were distinguished
only by the cannon, the greatest part of which wefe
Amounted and separated from the broken carriages.
In the midst of this scene of carnage, I discovei*e4
the body of a Russian cannonier, decorated with
three crosses. In one hand he held a broken sword,
and with the other, firmly grasped the carriage of
the gun at which he had so valiantly fought.

All the Russian soldiers in the redoubt chose
rather to perish than to yield. TTie general who
commanded them would have shared their fate, if
his valour had not preserved his life. This brave
soldier had sworn to die at Ws post, and he would
have kept his oath. Seeing all his companions
dead around him, he endeavoured to precipitate him-
self on our swords, and he would inevitably have
met his death, had not the honour of taking such a
prisoner arrested the cruelty of the soldiers. The
viceroy received him with kindness, and committed *
him to the care of colonel Asselin, who <:onducted
him to the emperor.

The viceroy's attention had been entirely taken
up by his centre, when it was recalled to his left by a
grand movement of cavalry directed by the enemy on
that point. General Delzons, who, since the morn-
ing, had been menaced by this cavaliy, formed his
first brigade into a scjuare* on the left of the Borodino.
Several times he was on the point of Toeing attacked ;

* See tJie plan of the i^ld of battfe.

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THE M09KWA« 127

but the anemf , seeing that he could make no im-^
piBSsion on him, advanced to the extremity of our
left, and commenced a brisk attack on the fiavarian
Mght cavalry, which were for a moment thrown into
disorder. The prince, who happened then to be at
tlm point, threw himself into the middle of a square
formed by the eighty-fourth, and prepared to set it
in motion, when the cossacks were in their turn re-
.pulsed and taking to flight, disengaged our left.
Every thing was then restored to the greatest order,
s The prince was found at all points exh<»ting eve-
ry officer to do his duty, an d remi nding him, that on
this day depended the glory of France. He was
seen at ail the batteries, causing them to advance in
proportion as the enemy gave way ; and, braving^
every peril, he himself instructed the cannoniers
how to direct their fire. It was thus that, hastening
to every post of danger, from the beginning of the
day, his^ aid-de-camp, Maurice Mejean^ received a
wound in the thigh, and the equerry, Bellisomi, had
his liorse killed under him. His highness having at
one time placed himself on the parapet of. the grand
redoubt, surroimded by his ofiicers, he remarked
from the embrasures allthe mbvementaof the enemy,
paying no attention to the bullets that passed him on
eU sides. Among the persons who composed his
suite, was colonel de Bourmont, whpse great mtmt
was only equalled by his rar€5 modesty. He had
dismounted with the other officers, and was. leaning
on the pommel of the saddle, when general Giiille-
minot lettinga paper fall, the colonel stooped to pick

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1^ ittE Mosr«rA.

it lip. That motion saved him his h£i ; for at that
veiy inBtant a ca:iiiK)ii-49aU passed thiough the br^iast
of hishoise«

During this menKKrable day^ the ^nperor remaiii'
ed coDstaxitlj in the rear of the centre ; and made,
on jthe extremity d* his right several gratid maiKBu-
vies with the Westphahans and the Poles to support
the duke of Elchingen (Ney), in his repeated and
desperate attempts to turn the position of the enemy^
On this point the Russians obstinately withstood ail
our efforts, and repulsed with considerable loss the
Westphalians and the Poles.

Although we had tak^i two i edoubts, &e enemy
i^d still a third, situated on another eminence, and
separated by a ravine. It was from thence that, esK
tablii^ng some batteries well served, they kept u|>
an ittpessant fire on our regimeo^, some of which
were £d:ieltered by a wood^ and others were behind
the grand re^ubt We remained during^ several
hours in this stete of inaction ; the artillay alone
vomiting from every side flames and death. At
this period general Hooard was killed by a ^pe^
shot, while commanding the second br^de of the
thirteenth dividon ; companion in amis to general
Plausanne, they perished on the same day. United
intheirlives, they wei:e not separated in death; for
they were both interred on that field which had wi^ .
nessed their gallantry.

The fourth corps, which, since ten o'clock had
sustained with intrepidity the attacks of the enemy,
was not the only one d[iat had losses to deplore. Al?

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TMM MOSKWAt 1^

;ffa9i||^4lie battle was not yet concluded, there ivas
.ns^.a jDorps that had not to moum the death of ofk
or more of its chiefs. I should ma^e too kmg a di-
pes^on from my subject were I to enumerate all
&e generals who purchased with their lives the sue*
cess of this bloody day ; but there were some, who,
by their courage and (heir virtue, had gained the es-
.teem of all the army. They excited that universal
leg^urd which bmve men alcme can inspire* They
were the, ^subject df genered observation and af^plause,
wjbile livii^, and the circumstances of their death wyi
behead with the liveliest interest. Among these I
ought to include goineral Augustus Canlincourt, who
was killed as he entered the grand redoubt, at the
head of the fifth cuirassiers. Cut down in the flow-
er of his age, he had witnessed more combats than
yf^ai^ Ta the vak>w of a soldi«, he united the po-
liteness of the gentleman. He was well informed,
polished, sprightly, noble, and generous. In short,
he was endowed with all the qualities and all the vir-
tues that slK>uld characterize the French soldi^. Be-
sides generals Plausanne and Houard, of whom I
have just now spoken, we had to d^lore the loss ci
the generals of brigade. Compere and Marion, as well
as general cpunt Lepel, aidrde-camp to the kii^ of
Westphalia, not forgetting, above all^ the just tribute
of respect due to ibuB memc»7 of the intrepid Mont*
brun. His undaunted intrepidky had long in^iied
us with a mdancholy presentiment that such a war*
rior inust necessarily perish on the field of batde; A

17

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, Rappy CompaiiH^ Mojraoid, Desaix, Lahgus-

19i THS VOaKWA.

woirthf 8i)ccte£fior of geaeral L«mle> hk died likft
him ; and like bim he was annon5^t0 our light cav-
alij. The number of generals wounded amounted
to thirtX) amoi;ig whom were the g^erab of diviaioir
Grouchy, Rapp, Compans^ Morwd, Desaix, Lahgus;
$iyre, &c.

Althougl

Jliany an unfortunate J||ing was yet to be decided.^
The cannon roared witETunabated fiiiy, and contin^
ued to orerwhehn new victima. The viceroy, ever
indefatlgabla, and unmindful of danger, was on ^v-
try part of the field ci battle, . exposed to a shower
of grape-shot and buUets. The firing still continu-
edt and, in the evening, it was so briskly maintained^
tlmtthe legion of the Vistula, commanded by gen-
eml Clapeiede, was forced to kneel down, behind
the ^rand rodoMbt. . We remained more than ad
bmn^^n this uncomfortable position, when the prince
o[ Neufchatci (Berthier) cpming up, had an intw--
view with the vicetf<7, which lasted till near dsA^
Their conference being ended, prince Eugene issu-
ed different ordeis to his divisions and the firing ceas-
id. The enemy was then more qmet, and only fired
a few shot at int^vals, whUe the silence of the last
redoubt, gave us reason to believe that the Russ
were preparing to retreat on the road to Mojc^sk<

The weather which had been very fine during
the day, became^ towards evening, cold and damp'
The whole army bivouacked on the ground it had
gained. The viceroy, who, since four o'clock in the
morning had. not dismouated firoXn Jus horse, took

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tHE M03KWA. 131

flic road behind the eminence occupied by the royal
guard, and where his highness expected to ha\^
£nind his tent erected ; but his people having lo9t
fiieir way^ he and his suit were indebted to the hos-
pitality of general Lecchi, who could only give us
a supper without bread, and a tumbril, for the bed
to which the prince reposed. This encampment
was most cruel ; neither men nor horses had any
thing to eat, and the want q[ wood exposed us ta aH
flie rigour of a cdd and frosty ^htt99Li^li|ni0b Jil

The next day (8th 8eptember),^fty early, wevj^^
retmned to the field of battle. What had been pre^ /▼^r^
dieted the preceding evening had actually taken
place. The enemy seeing the intrepidity with which
we cah-ied his redoul^, despaired of maintaining
his position ; and resolved to evacnate it during the
ni^t. As we ps&sed over the ground which they
had ocupied, we were enabled to judge (^ the im-
mense loss that the Russians had sustained. In the
space of a square league, almost every spot was cov*-
ered with the killed or wounded. On many places
the bursting of the shells had promiscuously heaped
together men and hprses. The fire of our howitzers
had been so destructive that mountains of dead
bodies were scattered over the plain ; and the few
places that were not encumbered with the slain, were
covered with broken lances, muskets, helmets, and
cuirassiers^ or with grape-shot and bullets, as numer^
ous as hailstones after a violent storm. But the most
horrid spectacle was the interior of the ravines ; al-
most all the wounded who were able tQ drag them*

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193 THE MMKWA.

selves aloi^had taken refuge tbere ta «t?6iA ^mt
riiot These miserable wretehea^ heafied one npon
another^ and almost suffocated with blood, uttmng
the most dreadful groans, and invoking death witli
piercing cries^ eagerly besouglit us to put an end to
their torments^

While the cavalry puisued the en^ny, the vSc€^*
ix>y ordered his engineescs to desticify the redo«lit ;
and as the fourth corps remained enca;mped on the
field ofbattle«il was presumed we should pass the
night there*|ptis highness had also ordered his suite
to establish tfaepselves in the church of Borodino,
the only building that had escaped the flames, but k
was filled \nih the woiinded, and the swoons: were
employed in dressing and amputating. The lotaff of
the piince then dete^rmwing t^ establish their qnajc*
ters m the village of Novoe^ near the read to Mojaisk
on the banks df the Kologfaa^ w^e on the point of
entering the castle, when some parties df coi^^a^
obliged them precipitately to retreat

In the meantime the viceroy being informed that
the fifteenth division, returned from Witep^, had e^
length, joined again their corps, received orders to
advance. Arrived at the vills^^ below which was
the redoubt abandoned by the enl^my, we left, on the
right, the high road of Majaj^k, which was pursued
by the centre corps ajad marched along the Kolo^a.
On this march we were convinced that it would have
been impossible to have turned the right of the Rus**
sians on the preceding evening. They had not only
many bodies of reserve on that side but Ukewise se^

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THE MOSKWA. 133

veral ma^ed batteries along the river. Within half
a league of the village ol Krasnoe, we found four
otb€»r great redoubts, in the {orm of a square, which
dtefended the road, and were not quite completed.
; Qinttifig the field of battle, we left a detachment
of all the stragglers that could be collected, to de^
ftfud the position under the orders of colonel Bour*
niont This difficult task was perfectly accomplish-
ed by that officer, who, after destroying the enemy's
works rejoined us in a few days. During this time
be lived in the midst of the dead and the dying, and
was obliged to procure hb provisions at a distance of
mcHre than five leagues.

Whilst we were preparing* to encamp at the cha-
teau of Krasnpii, a rumour was spread of the arrivd
of Napoleon. This news, however, was not confirm-
ed. On a height before us, we heard our sharp-
shooters engaged with the cossacfcs. In one of the
charges of cavalry, colonel Marboeuf was wounded
at the head of his regiment.

The chateau of Krasno«, and the village of this
name, are situated near the Moskwa. The follow-
ing morning we crossed this river, and, on its left
prejMired to attack Mojaisk; but the viceroy, with
\m escort, advanced only to the suburbs. Here we
saw this uiAappy town enveloped in flames. The
inhabitants had fled, and our dragoons made only a
few prisoners, found in the houses on this side of the
river. Several batteries, established on an emi-
nence beycmd Mojaisk, proved to us that we were
masters of it. In effect we learned that Napoleon

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134 THE MOSKWA.

had taken it, after an obstinate engagement, and that
the enemy in burning the town had not abandoned it
without making a brave defence, leaving the streets
and squares filled with the dead and the dying.

Our staff examined the environs of Mojarisk, when
the fourth corps, moving to the left, followed a high
road, thiou^ a thick wood ; beyond which we saw
a considerable village, and, further on, we found a
larger one, called Vedenskoc.

On this delightful spot was a chateau^ the furniture
of which corresponded with the beauty of the exte-
rior ; but in an instant it was entirely pillaged, with-
out any other advantage than some thousands of bot-
tles of wine, which were sieized by the soldiers.

From Vedenskoc, turning to the right, w€ crossed
a rivulet, close to a little village, and, pursuing a roacl
through thick underwood and briare, we arrived at a
village, called Vrouinkovo, where we understood the
head-quarters were to be established. On entering it
we perceived on an eminence at a distp.nce, some very
neat houses, and four steeples elegantly constructed.
We were about to halt in this village, where abun-
dance seemed to reign, when it was announced
that the fourth corps was to proceed to a town of the
name of Rouza, the steeples of which were plainly
perceived. Leaving Vrouinkovo, we, saw a great
number of peasants with carts, loaded with their
most valuable furniture and property. A sight so
new excited our astonishment, and asking colonel
Asselin what could be the reason of this singular
assemblage he answered me as follows :—

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TBM KOSKWA# 156

^ 1% pidportiOQ as our armies achrancediDto the in*
teriol- of Rossia^ the emperor Alexander, sec<»iding
the w^hes of the oobilitj, and following the eitample
of 8paiii, endeavotored to majce this a national war.
Aceordifigly, the nobittty and the priests have, by
persua^aons tod by bribes^ induced all the peasants
who wer^ de|>endent upon them, to rise en masse
against ua. Of dl the dktricts which have adhered
to this system of defence, that of Rouza has shown
kself the most itealoui^ The whole popidation, an-
imated by their seigneur, who had declared himself
the chief of the insurrection, was properly organized,
aiid ready to join the Russian army, as soon as they
should iteceive the necessaiy ordeis. -

; ^ As Rouza was at a distance of fiv e c«r six le agues
kota the high-r^d, the inhabitants had flattered
^emseiveS that we should not pass through their
town, and had consequently remained secure and
tranquil. What was their surprise, or rather their
terror,' continued the colonel, ^ when I was sent by
the viceroy, and presented myself with a dozen
of Bavarian light horse before the town ? The peas-
ants, dismayed, rushed from their houses, hastily
harnessed their horses to the carts which you now
See, and fled with the utmost precipitation.

' The men, however, who bad been enrolled for
&e levy, cc41eeted at the voice of their lord, and
armed with poles, lances, and scythes, assembled in
the square, and immediately advanced towards us ;
but this timid populace could not resist a few sol-
diers accustomed to battle, and presently took to

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196 IBB MOSKWA,

iif^t The chief alone evinced moie.firmMsaK
He awaited us on the squai^, and anned ynik a
poinaid, menaced aU who suoimoned him to.fwi*
lender.—^ How can I survive Ae dMrnnniT of w§
country^ cried he foamii^ with rage. ^ Our ukmt
ore no more! Our empire is di^raoed! Tahemy^h^
it is odious to me /' We .wished to oahn haco, Mid
endeavoured to wrendi his poinard from \xm ; but.
he became mcnre furious, and wounded aeYenl <^
our soldiers, who then listening only to ceveage, kill*
ed him with rc|>eated stehs of Uie bayonet

' This was ^scarcely ^ected when llie advanceijt-
guard 4>f die fourth corps entered Bousa. On n^
reciting what had happened/ contimiedtbeiCoiottely
^ they immediately pursued the peasants, whoJbad
fled with their effects and their caltle. They sow
came up with thCm, and those whom you see imti
are a part of the fugitives escaped from Aouaa* Gt
into the town' added he, ' and you wiU.se« mttgr
more of them*' ^

As we approached the town, we saw a great nnai*
ber of these carts brought back by the dra^ooBBk
It was an affecting spectade to behold these vet-
hides loaded with cUldren and old people^ The
heart was pierced vrith grief to think how so^n jour
soldiers would divide among them t|^ carts. »id
horses which constituted the sole fortime of these
disconsolate families.

At length we entered Rouza ; and as we advance
^ to the very centre of the town, we saw in everf
street, a crowd of soldiers, yAio pillaged the houses,

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TMS M09KWA. Itft

ttnTnindfiil of the cries of the inhabitants, or the tears
of the mothers, who, to soften the hearts of their con*
querois, preseirted their children *on their knees ;
bidJied in team, and distractedly wringing their
bands, these innocc^nt creatures be^^d only for
their liyes« This I'age for plunder was justified in
sfoine, who, djing with huiiger, only sought after pro-
visions ; but others, under this pretence, pillaged
every thing, and even robbed the women and c^«
dren of the ^ery clothes which covered them.

The viceroy bad arrived several hours with his
Stsff only. He had left the divisions of infantry and
Ihe royal guards, who to-day encamped in our rear,
between Rouza and Vroucnkovo. Every one en-
chanted to find himself in so deli^tful a town as
Rouza, gave himself up to that security, or rather the
disorder, which abundance produces after long pri*
vations ; when suddenly some Bavarian light horse^
who had been sent to reconnoitre, returned at full
speed, reporting that several squadrons of cossacks
were advancing towards the town. It woidd be diffi-
eutt to describe the sensation produced by this news.
The tmnquillity that we had enjoyed, opposed to the
imminent danger which now threatened, produced a
most sudden transition firom the liveliest joy to the
deepest despair. ^ The cossacks are here /' cried
one ; ^ There they come P cried anoth^, quite a^iast.
* What can we oppose to them ?^ we asked one an-»
other. 'Nothing but. some miserable soldiers j come
kitiier to plunder the peasants.^ This was, however^
our oiJy resource. They were immediately assem-

18

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13S THE moskwa;

Med io the square, but they were only about sixff kr
number, and half of them without arms.

The vkeroy inibrmed of the cause of this alann,'
mounted bis horse and ordered I»s officers to fbUoW
him. We hastened out of (be town, and entered*
ihe plain ; but wlmt wa» our surprise, whea^ instead^
of finding several squadrons, we orAj perceived*
about a dozen horsemen^ and at so great a distance^
that we could scarce^ distinguish them. Some
Bavarian light horse who were with us, advanced to*
reconnoitre, and reported that they were really c6s*
sacks: but by their small number, and timid and>
cautious march we could easily perceive that we ImuI
nothing to fear from them*

As these cossacks might have been detached
from a considerable ccaps, the prince thought it ne-
cessary to confirm the oider which he had already
given fibr some troops to advance ; but he modified it
so far as to content himself with two* battalions iii-
stead of the whole of the thirteenth division, which
had at first been ordered. These two battalions en*
camping before Rouza dissipated our fears. Every
one now returned quietly to his lodgings, where a
table well served, and excelleEff wines, made us soon
forget the alarm wc had experienced towards the
close of the day.

The following day we remained at Rouza. The
viceroy profited by this repose to make the chief of
his staflf draw up aN circumstantial report of the cefe-
bmt^ battle of the 7th of September, in which the
ftnurth corps had particularly distinguished itself.

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THE IfOSKWA. 1®

^lyi^sttke thirte^ith and fourteenth divisions ^kid
;before the emperor their claims on his regard, tl|e
ififieenth division, not less deserving than the rest, but
deprived of the honour of fitting in the battle of the
Moskwa, was likewise justly entitled to distinguished
notice, in ccmsideration of the numberless harda^ps
which it had undergone in itse:i^pediUonloWitepsk.
This brave division, procecdii^ constantlj through a
^marshy country, meeting only with deserted and rav-
aged villages, was ialways compelled to bivouac dur*
ingthe ni^, and generally without provisions, an4
every day to retake the most painfiil and hairasslng
marches to attack au enemy, which always fled at its
appearance. For nearly twenty days it saw only the
i^ids whidb we badjcompletely laid waste ; and at
length, worn out with hunger, weariness, and dis-
ease, this unfortunate division, which, with its chief,
was worthy of & better fate, could not reach Bo-
rodino, till the day after the battle. The fatigues
which it had endured, and especially, the great
)o6ses it had sustained, obliged the viceroy to leave
it in reserve. It was the highest [»roof of esteem
which the prince could bestow, to unite them witli
idle heroes of the royal guards, the greatest part of
whom had been taJ$:en from this division*

On quitting Rouza it was decided that this posi-
tion, so important on account of the abundance of
provisions which were ^ill to be found there, should
be maintained. The castle, situated on a small em-
inence, surrouq^ed with ditches, afforded a sufficient
defence for the garrison, and jguarded them against

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140 THE MOSKWA.

Bcoup de main* This faonoumble command was
given to captain Maison Neuve, who proved himself
worthy of the confidence reposed in )iim. As loi^
as the position was retained, this brave and iatelli*
gent officer rendered himself useful to the army by
the skilfulness of his dispositions, and by the ea^e
with which he appeared to comprehend eveiy intenrW
tionoftheenem^. JF

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^OOK V.

MOSCOW.

AFTER the battle of the Moskwa, our triumph-
ant armj marched ia tbree columns towards the ca»
pital of the Rusdan empire. Napdieon, impatient
to get possession of it, pursued the enemy with his
accustomed vigour, on the high road of Smolemiko ;
while prince Pomatowski, at the head of the fifth
corps, marched on the right by way of Kaluga. The
viceroy, commanding the fourth corps, continued on
the left flank, and, taking the road of Zwenighorod,
proceeded towards Moscow, where the whole army
was to assemble.

We could judge of the consternation which reign-
ed in this capital, by the terror with which we in-
spired the country people. Our arrival at RousSa
(9th of September) and the cruel manner in which we
had treated the inhabitants, were no sooner known
than all the villages on the road to Moscow, were
instantly abandoned. The country presented one
uniform scene of horrible desolation ; for most of
those who fled, burnt, in despair, their houses, their
chateaux^ and the grain and forage, which were
scarcely gathered. AH these unhappy beings, terri-

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142 MOSCOW.

fied hj the &tal and useless resistance of tl» vAuSsh
itants of Rouza, threw awaj the pokes, with #whkli
'they had been armed, and swiftly fied to cotioesl
their wives and their little ones in the thick forests at
a distance from our route.

On approaching Moscow, we Imd hoped that civ-
Uization, which enervates the soul, aiid especially aa
attachment to property, so imtural to the inhabttiynts
of large towns, would have induced the people not
to quit their habitations. We were i^onvijdeed that
the rapacity o{ our soldiers wfu» prin^q^aUy excite^
by the deserted state in which we found Uie villages.
But the country around Moscow does not be)o^ to
the inhabitants of that beautiful city ; it was tl^
property of the lords who had declared against up,
and th^ir peasants, equally enslaved and oppressi^
with those .of the Nieper and of the Volga, obeyed H^
carders of their masters. *They had been CAJoine^,
on pain of dealh to fly at our approa^, and to hijle
in the woods, whatever could be uj^cful to us.

We perceived the execution of this fatal meaiaire,
on entering the vilk^^ of Apalchtchouina. T^
houses deserted, the cattle abandoned, the furnitu^
dashed to pieceg, and the provisions destroyed, pre-
^s^ted a spectacle of the most frightful desolation.
All these. ravage showed us what sacrifices a people
suiSicieBUy niagnamn^ous to prefer independence to
riches, will cheerfully make.

Near Kgtrinakoe, a village half way towards Zwe-
n^hcKod, w^the^ we were nxarching, the cossacks
iappear«4* According to their custom, they made 80

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lroscow« 143^

aCand ^ngsdast oiir advanced-gimrd, but contented
^imiekes mth observing us, by marching on an em-
tueiiee'at our left, parallel to the high road. On
the summit of this height, in the midst of a &ick
wood of birch, rose the grej walls and the steeples
of an ancient abbey. At the foot of the hill stood
the little town oi Zwenighorod, built on the banks of
the Moskwa. On this point the cossacks formed
tiiemselves into' several bodies, and skirmished fin
some time with our H^ troops, but they were gra-
dualfy^ cBslodged frcmi their ambuscades, and we
took post round Zwenighorod*
' The abbey situated above this little town, com-
mands the course of the ]lk»skwa. Its embattled
walls, more than twenty feet in height, and between
five and six feet thick, are flanked by four great
towers, with embrasiires. This edifice, constructed
in the thirteenth or fourteenth century, reminds us
of the times when the Muscovites, filled with vene-
ration for their priests, suffered the sacredotal au-
thority to take precedence of that of the nobles ; and
when the Czar marched, on days of ceremony, before
the patriarch of Moscow, holding the bridle of his
horse* But these moo&s, so powerful and so formi-
daUe belbre the time of Peter I. were brought back
again to the simplicity of the apostles, when thi»
great monarch, on founding his empire, confiscate^
their property and diminished their number.

To conceive a proper idea of the changes pro-
duced by this reform, it was sufficient to enter the
abbey of Zweni^orod. At the sight of these Urfly^

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144 II08C0W«

towers and enormons walls, wesoppdsed tlidttte
interior contained an agreeable and commodiocis re^
sidence, and that we should find among these monks
die wonted abundance of aD richly endowed' abbejs.
A large iron gate, strongly bairicadoed^ confirmed us
in the persuasion that this convent was well si^plied
with every thing that our soldiers needed.- We were
about to force the entry, when an old man whose flow-
ing beard was whiter than his robe, came to admit us.
He was desired to conduct us to the abbot On en-
tering the court, we were much surprised at finding
that this vast edifice did not correspond with the high
opinion we had conceived of it ; and that our guide
instead of introducing us into the apartments of the
superior, conducted us to a small chapel, where wef^
saw four moks prostrate at the foot of an altar, con«
structed in the Grecian style. These venemble clA
men, when they perceived us, threw themselves at
our feet, and embracing our knees, entreated, in the
name of the God whom they adored, that We would
respect their church, and the graves of some bishops,
of which they were the faithful guardians. ' You
may judge, by our miserable appearance,' they ad-
dressed us by means of an interpreter, * that we can
have no hidden treas^ures ; and our food is so coarse,
that many ofyoiir soldiers would scorn to eat it.
We have no other possessions than our relics and
our altars. Deign to respect them from a reverence
for a religion so similar to your own*' This we
promised, and our assurance was confirmed on the

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J

MOSCOW. 145

omval of the viceroy, who established his head-
quarters iit this abbey, and thereby preserved the
church and the convent, from the pillage with which
they were threatened.

While this asylum, formerly so peaceful, was a
prey to the tumult unavoidable on such occasions, I
perceived one of these pious monks, who, to conce$il
himself, took refuge in a cell almost under ground,
the simplicity of which presented nothing to excite
our avarice. This friar, sensible of my attentions to
him, rewarded them by acknowledging that he
spoke French, and that he wished to have the pleas-
ure of conversing with me. Charmed with his
candour, I profited by it, to inform myself of every
thing rdating to the sentiments and character of a
nation, from wh(Mn we had conquered more than
two hundred and fifty leagues of territory, without
becoming acquainted with them. When I men-
tioned Moscow, be told me that it was the place of
his nativity, and I perceived that deep sighs inter-
rupted his speech. I judged by his silent grief that
he mourned over fhe misfortunes to which this great
capital would soon be exposed. I sympathised with
him ; but anxious to know the state of affairs in
that city which we were on the point of entering, I
ventured at length to ask him concerning it

' The French have entered the territory of Rus-
sia with immense force,' said this venerable monk ;
' they come to ravage our beloved country, and they
advance even to the sacred city— the centre of our
empire, and the source of oiu prosperity. Una<?-

19

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146 MOSCOW.

quainted with our manners and our cbcoracter, tb^y
think that we shall bend under their yoke,. and that,
compeUed to.choose between our homes and our in-
dependence, we shall, like too many others, submit
to their dominion, and renounce that naticmal pride
in which consists the true power of a people. No,
Napoleon is mistaken. We are too wise not to abhor
his tyranny ; and we are not sufficiently corrupted to
prefer slavery to liberty. In vain he hopes to force
us, by his numberless armies, to sue for peace. He
.does not remember that the population of Russia is
at the absolute controul of the nobility. Our seign-
eurs, able at their pleasure to cause whole districts
to emigrate, will order their peasants to fly into- the
deserts, at the approach of the invader, or, if neces-
sary will destroy every town and village, rather thaa
give them up to a true barbarian, whose tyranny is
more dreadful to us than death itself.

* We are aware, too,' added he, * that Napoleon
relies much on the dissensions which used formerly
to exist between the monarch and the^ nobles ; but
the love of our country has stifled every ancient feud.
He flatters himself, likewise, that he will be able to
arm the people against the great. Vain efibrts ! the
people are, from religion, obedient to their masters ;
nor will they confide in the deceitful promises of
him who burns their cottages, murders their chil-
dren, devastates their country, and subverts their
temples. Besides, has not the whole of Europe
witnessed the most striking instances of his per-
fidy ? Is he not the scourge of Germany, of whom

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\

MOSCOW. 147

ke professed to be the protector ? Spain, too, hav-
ing tnisted to the sincerity of his alliance, is become
one vast burying-place ! The pontiff who crowned
him, and raised him from a private station to the
first throne in the world, what reward has he receiv-
ed for that diadem ? An ignominious captivity ! And
even your own country, which for the sake of a for-
eigner, seems to have forgotten the race of St
Louis, what advantages does she derive from her
submission? Incessant new taxes, to maintain a
crowd of worthless courtiers, or to gratify the luxury
of a family insatiable in their pleasures. In addition
to this, you liave proscriptions and secret executions
without number. Your very thoughts are fettered,
and whole generations are destroyed. In tnith, your
mothers have often been reduced to the sad necessity
of deploring their fecundity. This,' said the vene-
rable old man to me, * this is the situation in which
your tyrant has placed you; a tyrant who is the more
vain and odious, because he sprung from an obscure
family ; and who formerly having scarcely one do-
mestic to serve him, is now desirous that the whole
universe should crouch at his feet, and that even
kings should be compelled to wait in his anti-room.
If I did not fear to disgrace the majesty of that mon-
arch who loves us as we love him, I would draw a
'comparison between your monarch and ours, — but
such a comparison would only produce a shocking
contrast, as it would place vice in constant opposition
to virtue.'

Struck by the energy of this priest, whose

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148 MOSCOW.

strength of mihd had suffered nothing from age f
remained silent, and was at the same time charmed
with his candour. Affected by the confidence with
which he had honoured me, I thought I might east
off all reserve, and derive much useful information
from his conversation. ' As you have just mention-
ed the emperor Alexander,' said I to him, *pray tell
me what has become of him ? Since we passed the
Wilia we have never heard any thing of him : and at
Witepsk, in a public audience, Napoleon announced
with much satisfaction, that this monarch had shared
the fate of his father, having fallen a victim, at Wi-
li-luki, to the treachery of his courtiers.'

* He cannot have much greatness of soul,' an-
svi cred the old man smiling, ^ who triumphs at the
death of an enemy. But, to prove to you the falsity
of that report, and to show you how much harmony
exists among all classes at this critical moment, and
how beloved our sovereign is, I will read you a letter
which was sent to me from Moscow, a few days
after Alexander had arrived there from the army.'
At these words he took out the letter, translating it
to me as he went on.

' Moscow J July 27.*
^ This day will add niew lustre to our annals, and
the remembrance of it will descend to the remotest
posterity, as an eternal testimony of Russian patriot-
ism and loyalty. It will record the ardent attach-

* The translation of this letter having appeared in the French journals,
it is given here as it .was puhlished in the Monite^r.

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MOSCOW. 149

ment, which oiir illustrious nobility, and every class
of citizens, feel for our beloved sovereign. After a
notification published in the evening, the nobility and
the merchants assembled, at eight o'clock on the fol-
lowing morning, at the palace Slobode, to wait the
arrival of our most gracious emperor. Notwith-
standing the object of this meeting had not been
communicated, every one attended, full of those
loyal feelings which the appeal of the father of his
couqtiy to his children, in the capital of his empire,
would naturally inspire. The silence which reigned
in this vast assembly clearly proved their union, and
their disposition to submit to any sacrifice. When
the manifesto of his imperial majesty was read in
the presence of the governorof Moscow, appealing to
the nation at large, and calling on every one to de-
fend his country against an enemy ^ who, with craft
in his heart, and seduction on his lips, was bringing
fetters and indissoluble chains for Russia,' the illus-
trious posterity of the Pojarskies, animated by the
most ardent zeal, immediately testified their readi-
ness to sacrifice the whole of their property, and
even their hves. They immediately resolved that
levies should be made in the government of Moscow,
to form an army of the interior, consisting of ten
inen out of every hundred, who should be armed to
the utmost of their ability, and provided with cloth-
ing and pay. The manifesto being afterwards read
in the assembly of the merchants, this body, animjit-
ed by the general zeal, resolved that a sum of money
should be levied on each of them, proportionate to

/

/

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160 MOSCOW.

ttieir respective capitals, to defraj the expetise df the
army of the interior. Not satisfied with this, the
greater part of them were desirous of making fiv*
ther sacrifices. They demanded permission to opeil
a voluntary subscription for that purpose, and in less
than an hour, the sum subscribed amounted to more
than one million and a half of roubles.

* Such was the disposition of these two bodies,
when his majesty, who had attended divine service
at the church of the palace, appeared among the no*
bles. After assuring them, in a short speech, that
he considered the zeal of the nobility as the firmest
support of his throne ; and, acknowledging that they
h<)d at all times, and under all circumstances, shown
themselves the guardians and faithful defenders of
the integrity and glory of their beloved country, he
condescended to give them a brief sketch of the state
of military affairs, which then required extraordinary
measures of defence. When he was informed of
the unanimous decision of the two bodies, who had
resolved to furnish, to clothe, and to arm, at their
o vn expense, eighty thousand men for the defence
of Moscow, he received this new proof of attach-
ment to his person, and of love to the country, with
the feelings of a father who loves his children ; and
who is proud of their courage. Yielding to the
emotions which overpowered him, he exclaimed,
* I d d not expect less : you have fully confirmed my
opinion of yoii.^

^ Afterwards his imperial majesty condescended
to proceed to the saloon where the merchants weie

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MOSCOW. )61

^Mmblecl, fittiy beii^ ioformed of the zeal they had
shown berth in the resolution of levying a sum-on the
whole body and making an extraordinary voluntary
subscription of a million and a half of roubles, he
expressed hi^ gracious satisfaction in terms dictate'd
by wisdom itself His speech was followed by the
general exclamation of, * Wi are ready to sacrifice
for our father, not only our fortunes, but our lives.'
These were the words of the descendents of the im-
mortal Minin. The scene of that morning requires
the pen of a new Tacitus ; while the pencil of a se-
cond Apelies alone would do justice to the picture,
whi(:h represented the monarcs^h and the father beam-
ing kindness and benevolence, receiving from his chil-
dren, who thronged around him, the sacrifices which
they were offering on the altar of their country,

* May our enemy be informed of this ! May that
pioud man, who sports With the fate of his subjects,
learn it, and tremble ! We shall all march against
hijn. We are guided by religion, and by loyalty for
our sovereign and country. We will conquer or per-
ish together.'

After having read this letter, the pious friar in-
formed me that the patriarch Platon, archbishop of
Moscow, notwithstanding his advanced and decrep-
id age, watched still in the spirit and in prayer, for
the welfare of his sovereign and the empire, and
that he had just sent to his imperial majesty the pre-
cious image of Saint Serge, bishop of Radoujjue-
The monarch, added he, accepted this sacred relic,
and presented it to the army of Moscow, hoping

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162 . MOSCOW.

that it would be safe under the protection of thi^
^aint, who, once, by his benediction, shielded the
victorious Demitri Dousko'i, in his combat against
the cruel Mamai.

This is the letter of his eminency Platon, dated
from the abbey Troitsa,* July 26th*

* Moscow, the capital of the empire, the new Je-
rusalem, receives her Christ like a mother, in the
arms of her faithful sons ; and perceiving, through
the mist which is raised, the brilliant glory of his
power, she sings joyfully, Hosannah, praised be he
who is arrived ! Let the arrogant and shameless
Goliath bring his mortal terrors fix)m the Umits of
France to the confines of Russia ! Peaceful religion,
this sling of the Russian David, vrill soon destroy
his sanguinary pride. This image of Saint Serge,
ancient defender of our country's happiness, is offer-
ed to your imperial majesty's acceptance.'

Astonished at a custom so different from ours, I
asked whether it was really true, that the emperor
Alexander had given this standard to his soldiers.
' I am so certain of it,' answered the venerable ec-
clesiastic, * that it would be sacrilegious to doubt it.
Letters from Moscow have since informed us, that
bishop Augustin, vicar of that capital, having assem-
bled all the troops in the town,t chanted a Te Deum
and presenting them with the image of Saint Serge,
pronounced a discourse which dissolved the whole

* About fifteen Icag^ues distant from Moscow.

t Saturday, August 17tli, or, according to our calender, August 29tli>
which, as is we^ll known, anticipates the Russian calender by 12 days.

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MOSCOW. 16^

<iongregatiori m tears; We have seen these troops
passing under the walls of our abbey, in their way
to the battle of Moscow, and carrying with venera-
tion that sacred standard. They marched to the
combat like true christian soldiers, devoted to their
religion, their country, and their prince. These sen-
timents were expressed in their countenances ; ^ce-
lestial joy beamed from their eyes at the thought of
combatting the enemy. Every warrior, even those
who had just entered the service, glowed with the
ardour of most experienced veterans^ and showed
that unlimited suhmission to his chiefs, and obser-
ved that strict discipline, which is the duty and the
surest sign of a good soldier. The country people^
who saw them pass, implored from the bottom of
their hearts, the protection of heaven on these brave
men who proceeded from the ancient capital of
Russia, that city, which in former times, had, with
her own forces, laid the insolent enemy in the dust,
who presumptuously came to destroy it.'

Filled with astonishment at the extraordinary
things which this good old man had communicated
to me, I felt the deepest respect for a nation so great
even in its misfortunes ; and I said to myself, ' That
people must be invincible, who, firm to their prin-
ciples, shrink not at the approach of danger, and
stake their own preservation on that of their religion
and their laws.'

Early on the following morning we quitted the
abbey. As I retired from it, I looked behind, and
saw the first rays of the rising sun, gilding the sum-

20

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lF54f MOSCOW*

mit of those lofty walls, which had been erected as*,
the as) lum of peace, but which, after our departure^
became a prey to undisciplined brigands. I rumina- .
ted on these painful ideas, and, taking a road parallel
with the Moskwa, I observed that bridges had been.,
erected before Zwenighorod, with the intention of
opening a communication with the grand army, who
marched towards Moscow on the (^posite bank.

We followed the course of the Moskwa, when
the Cossacks again appeared, manoeuvring Justin the
same manner as they had done the night befoi^e. —
They attempted, for a moment^ near Aksinino, to
stop the Bavarian light horse; but some of &eir
men being wounded, they fled in disorder, and reti-
red beyond the Moskwa, which we crossed below .
the village of Spaskoe. The river was shallow at
that pointy, and both men and horses easily effected a
passage. The cossacks, who waited for us at the
entrance of a wood, dispersed when they saw that
the barrier which separated them from us had been«
overstepped. Thence we pursued our march as far
as Buzai'evo, where the post-house alone remained^
and a castle, on a very steep eminence, surrounded
by woods, in which prince Eugene lodged.

The following morning, (September 14th,) anx-
ious to arrive at Moscow, we commenced our march
at an early hour, and passed through several desert-
ed villages. On the banks of the Moskwa, towards .
our right, were some magnificent chateaux^ which the
Cossacks had pillaged, to deprive us of every com- .
fort which these places could afford. The corn,

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MOSCOW. 155

ready for harvest, had either been trodden down,
^r eaten by the horses. The hay-stacks, which
•covered the country, were given to the flames,
^nd spread all around an impenetrable smoke.-—
'When we at last reached the village of Tscherepko-
va, and our cavalry continued their march, the
viceroy ascended an eminence on our right, and
long examined whether Moscow, the object of all
our wishes, could be seen ; for we regarded it as
the end of our fatigues and the termination of our
expedition. Several hills yet concealing it from
our view, we perceived nothing but clouds of dust,
which, rising parallel with our march, incRcated jthe
a-oute which the grand army had pursued A few
<cannon-shots, fired at a distance, and >vith long in-
tervals, disposed us to think that our troops were ap-
proaching Moscow, Avithout experiencing much re-
sistance*

As we descended from the eminence, we suddenly
iieard the most dreadful cries. A troop of cossacks,
issuing from a neighbouring wood, had, in their
accustomed manner, rushed upon our chasseurs, and
/endeavoured to stop our march of the Van-guard,
But our brave fellows, far from being intimidated by
this unexpected attack, quickly repelled those vain
efforts by which a powerless horde strove to impede
our entrance into the capital. These were the last
struggles of a desperate courage, and the Russians,
beaten and dispersed, were obliged to fly, under the
walls of the Kremlin, as they had before done on
the banks of the Kolo^ha.

'O*

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J66 MOSCOW.

We distinguished^ at a distance, and amidst the
dust, long columns of Russian cavalry, all marching
towards Moscow, and all retiring behind the town,
as soon as we approached it. While the fourth corps
was constructing a bridge across the Moskwa, the
0tafF, about two o'clock, established itself on a lofty
Jiill, whence we perceived a thousand elegant and
l^ded steeples, which glittering in the rays of^ the
sun, appeared at the distance like so many flaming
globes. One of these globes, placed on the summit
f){ a pillar, or an obelisk, had the exact appear*
ance of a balloon suspended in the air. Transported
witji delight at this beautiful spectacle, which was
the more gratifying, from the remembrance of the
inelancholj objects which we had hitherto seen, we
could not suppress qiu' joy ; but with one spontane-
ous movement, we all exclaimed, Moscow / Moscow f
At the sound of this wished for name, the soldiers
ran up the hill in crowds, and each discovered new
wonders every instant. One admired a noble cha^
teau on our left, the elegant architecture of whidi
fdbplayed more than eastern magnificence ; another
directed his attention towar4s a palace or a temple ;
but all were struck with the superb picture which
this immense town forded* It is situated in the
midst of a fertile plain. The Moskwa is seen mean-
dering through the richest meadows ; and, after hav-
ing fertilized the neighbouring country, takes its
course through the middle of the town, separating an
immense cluster of houses, built of wood, stone, and
bricks, constmcted in a style which partakes of the

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MOSCOW. 157

^thic and modem architecture, and in which^ in*
deed, the architecture of every different nation is
Btrai^ly mingled. The walls, variously painted,
the domes covered with lead, or slates, or glittering
with gold, offered the most pleasing variety ; whilst
the termces before the palaces, the obelisks over the
gates, and, above all, the steeples, really presented to
our eyes one of those celebrated cities of Asia, which
we had thought had only existed in the creative im^
agnation of the Arabian poets.

We were still coi^mplating this noble spectacle,
when we saw a well-dressed man coming towards
us through ax by-way from Moscow. Several of
our soldiers immediately ran to meet him, and, view-
ing him with suspicion, were disposed to make him
pg,y dearly for his imprudent curiosity. But the
calmness with which he addressed us, and the flu«
ency with which he spoke our language, and, above
aU, our impatience to hear some tidings from Mos-
cow, made us all listen to him with pleasure and in-
terest.

* I am not come here,' said he, * to observe
your manoeuvres, nor to give you false information ;
I am an unfortunate merchant, ignorant of eveiy
diing which relates to war ; and, notwithstanding I
am the victim, I have not inquired into the motives
which have induced oiir sovereign to engage in this
fatal contest. Your emperor to-day, about noon, en-
tered Moscow, at the head of his invincible legions ;
but he found only a deserted town. Some wretches,
who bp^ve escaped from prison, and some miserable

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158 MOSCOW.

prostitutes, vpere the only creatures who interrupted
its solitude. Hasten, if possible, to stop their ex«^
cesses. Liberty has- only been granted them, with
the hope, that all the crimes which they may comimt
will be attributed to the French aimy. Being aware
of the misfortunes which threaten us, I came to find
among you a man sufficiently generous to protect
my family ; for, in spite of the orders of our govern-
ment, I cannot consent to abandon my house, and
to lead a wandering, miserable life in the vi^oods. i
prefer applying to French generosity, and I trust
that I shall find a protector among those who have
been ever represented to us as our most crael ene^
mies. Tlie great uien.of our empire, deceived by
a savage and destructive policy, will doubtless at*
tempt to irritate you, by causing the whole popula-
tion to emigrate, and leaving nothing but a deserted
city, if indeed, it is not already sacrificed to the
flames'. Every one interrupted him, saying that
it was impossible any people would thus eflfect their
own ruin, from the uncertain hope of involving their
enemy in it. ^

^ It is but too true that such a resolution is taken,'
said this unhappy map, * and, if you yet doubt it,
know, that count Rastopchin, governor of Moscow,
quitted it yesterday. Before he departed, he charged
the veiy outcast of human beings to assist him in his
revenge. How far be will proceed Iknow not ; but
I tremble when I recollect that he has often threaten-
ed to burn Moscow, if the French should approach
it.. Such barbarity must seem atrocious and even

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dfoscow. 159

Hicredible to you, if you are not aware of the deadly
hatred which your unheard of victories have inspired
ki the nobility. They know that the whole of Eu-
r<^ is under your domination, and, from a senti-
ment of pride, they would destroy their native coun-
try, rather than see it subjugated*

^ If the nobility, ashamed of their defeats, had
not meditated the destruction of the capital, why
should they have fled with all their property ? Why
have the merchants likewise been compelled to fol-
low them, canying with them their goods and their
treasures ? Why, lastly, have no magistrates remain-
ed in this desolated town, to implore the mercy of
the conqueror ? They have all fled, and thus seem
determined to urge your soldiers to every excess ;
for the legal authorities, the only protection of the
citizens, by abandoning their posts, have abandoned
every thing.'

This unfortunate Moscovite shed many bitter
tears while he thus addressed us. To calm his grief
we promised what he requested, and endeavoured to
console him, by dissipating those fears, too well
founded, which the dangers of his unhappy coun-
try had excited. We questioned him as to the direc-
tion in which the Russians had retreated ; what they
had done since the battle of the Moskwa, and, lastly,
what was become of the emperor Alexander and his
brother Constantine ? He answered all our questions
in the most satisfactory manner, and confirmed the
intelligence which had been already communicated
to me by the friar in Zwenighorod. This unhappy

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160 MOSCOW.

man becoming more composed, and being secret!/
flattered by the agreeable surprise which the sight of
Moscow and its environs had caijsed, consented at
my request to give us some account of a city, the
conquest of which promised to crown all our hopes.
He expressed himself as follows : —

* Moscow, built in the Asiatic style, has five enclo-
sures, one within another ; the last comprising the
town and its suburbs, is about thirty werstes* in cir-
cumference ; but the fourth enclosure, which com-
prises the town only, and which is called Semlaingo-
rod^ is but twelve. The suburbs, or shhodes^ arc
thirty in number. In winter, the population amounts
to three hundred thousand souls ; but on the ap-
proach of summer, every one retires to his country-
house, and this number diminishes one third.

^ The higher towers and the embattled walls,
which you see rising in the midst of the town, trace
the first enclosure, called Kremlin, This fortress in
the form of a perfect triangle, is celebrated in our
annals, and has never been taken.t The plan of it
was drawn, towards the fourteenth century, by some
Italian architects. J The interior of the Kremlin is di-

* Sevai leagues.

f The people of Moscow believe that tlie preservation of the empire de-
pended on the towers of thb ancient fortress. A false tradition persuaded
them that it never had been taken. Thus, to express the idea of secari^*
it Was a common saying, As safb as withih ths Ksbuulv. •

+ Voltair's Histoire dc Bussia, volume I, page 50, stereotype edition.

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I

MOSCOW. 161

vided into two parts ; the one called Krepots^ or cita-
del contains only the palace, and some churches,
each of which is surmounted by five domes. From
this place you may perfectly distinguish them, as
much by their elevation as by the gilding of the '
steeples, and their fantastical architecture. In the
second enclosure are some noble houses, commercial
streets, and the place called Bazar y or Khitaigorody a
name given it by the Tartars, who were its founders.

* Foedor, the elder brother of Peter the Great,
began to improve Moscow. He constructed several
buildings of stone, but without any regular architec-
ture. To him we owe the first stud of beautiful hor-
ses, and some useful embellishments.* Although
Peter had a particular affection for Petersburg, nev-
ertheless his genius, which embraced every thing, did
not neglect Moscow. He caused it to be paved,
adorned it with many superb edifices, and enriched it
with valuable manufactures ; and, lasllv, under Eli-
zabeth, a university was established.! fwwjfj^^J^^i^

' The arsenal within the kreppts, is remarkaole^ Vf
for six culverins, mounted on fixed carriages, the
largest of which is twenty-four feet in length. Near
the principal gate, is likewise an enormous howitzer,
at least three feet in diameter. Further on is the an-
cient palace of the Czajrs. It is the residence of our
,€^mperors. #Ypurshas now establishedjiimself thfif^*,/^ W ^

* Voltaire's Ilistoife de Bussie, vol. T. p»^^ 52-. #|i

+ mm.

'2T •

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162 MOSCOW.

Behind is the place of the senate ; near which is the
cathedral of St Iwan, and the foundation of an an-
cient tower, with (he famous bell which was cast in
Moscow, towards the middle of the sixteenth centu*'
jy, under the Czar Boris Godono. It is an astonishing
production, and proves, that even at that remote pe-
riod, the Russians had made great progress in civili-
zation and the fine arts. This bell, justly admired
for the beauty of the figures which surround it, sur-
passes in size the most famous in Europe.^

* From the krepots yoa enjoy a delightful prospect
On the right and left are two bridges, across the
Moskwa. Beyond the river are some magnificent
palaces ; and in the back-ground is a fine country^
embellished with many noble mansions.'

But said I, interrupting the Moscovite, tell us what
immense fabric is this with an infinite number of
windows on each side, and which, by its enormous
magnitude, seems to command the whole town ?

^Jt is the hospital Sheremitow,' answered he,
* built by the illustrious family of that name. One
of their ancestors was the glorious companion in
arms of Peter the Gr^at ; and the riches which he ac-
quired, were always devoted to the prosperity and
glory of the nation. In this building were educated
the orphans and the children of those who have de-
fended the country. But at present the children haye
been removed, and their fathers, to the number of

* Voltaire's Histoire de Bussie, torn. i. page 51.

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MOSCOW. 16S

twenty thousand who have been gloriously wounded
at Mojaisk, occupy their places. These unhappy
knen are abandoned, death is before their eyes ; and
if your generosity does not in this moment of calami*^
ty afford them assistance, they will be left to die io
the most frightful torments.

* From the gate of Petersburg to that of Kaluga,
numerous palaces are seen, which, by their riches
and magnificence, attract the attention of the travel-
ler. All these palaces are newly constructed, and
announce (he prodigious wealth that Russia has ac-
cumulated within these few years. But the most
astonishing of all, is the palace of Orlo w. It belongs
to the only heiress of this name, whose income ex-
ceeds six millions of rubles.* The extent of this pal-
ace is immense, and the beauty of the interior cor-
responds with the spacious courts and enchanting
gardens which surround it ,

^ You will find in my country,' added the Mosco-
vite, ' a great number of edifices, justly celebrated as
the most beautiful in Europe. It is useless to des-
cribe them to you, since you will soon see them your-
selves. I wish that you may lo«g admire them, but a
fatal presentiment convinces me, that this great and
superb town, justly considered as the market of Eu^
rope and of Asia, will, ere long, astonish the world
by the most dreadful catastrophe.'

As he uttered these words the unfortunate man
seemed suffocated with grief. I pitied him ; but I

* One million sterling.

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164 MOSCOW.

could not leave him without asking the name of thai
great building of red and white brick, which was seen
to the north of the town on the road to Petersburg-
He informed me, that it was the famous chateau of
Peterskcc, where the sovereigns of Russia used to re-
side previous to their coronation.

Although the bridge over the Moskwa was not yet
finished, the viceroy ordered the troops of his corps to
cross the river. The cavaliy had already passed it,
andha)} taken post before the village of Khorchcvo.
We were here ofl&ciaHy informed of the entry of our
troops into Moscow. The fourth corps received or-
ders to halt at this place till the following day, when
an hour would be appointed for us to enter the capi-
tal of the Russian empire.

On the 1 6th of SeptemJ^er our corps left the vil-
lage, where it had encamped, at an early hour, and
marched to Moscow. As we approached the city,
we saw that it had no walls, and that a simple para-
pet of earth was the only wojk which constituted the
outer enclosure. Nothing indicated that the town
was inhabited ; and the road by which we arrived
was so deserted, tha|iive saw neither Russian or even
French soldiers. No cry, no noise was heard, in the
nudst of this awful solitude. We pursued our march
a prey to the utmost anxiety, and that anxiety was.
redoubled when we perceived a thick smoke, which
arose in the form of a column, from the centre of the
town. It was at first believed that the Russians^
agreeably to their custom, had, in retreating, set fire
to some magazines. Recollecting, however^ the re-

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MOSCOW. 166

cital of the inhabitant c^ Moscow, we feared that his
prediction was about to be fulfilled. Eager to know
the cause of this conflagration, we in vain endeavor-
ed to find some one who might satisfy our irrepressi-
ble curiosity, and the impossibility of satisfying it,
increased our impatience and augmented our alarm.

We did not enter at the first barrier that presented
itself, but, moving to the left, we continued to march
round the town. At length, according to the orders
of the viceroy^ I placed the troops of the fourth corps
in a position, to guard the high road towards Peters-
burg. The thirteenth and fifteenth divisions, en-
camped around the chateau of Peterskoc, the four-
teenth established itself in the village between Mos-
cow and this chateau^ and the Bavarian light cavalry
was a league in front of th^ village.

When these positions were taken, the viceroy en-
tered Moscow, and fixed his head-quarters in the pal-
ace of prince MomonofT, in the beautiful street of St.
Petersburg. The quarter assigned to our corps was
one of the finest in the town. It was composed en-
tirely of superb edifices, and of houses, which, although
of wood, had an appearance^of surprising grandeur
and magnificence. The magistrates having abandon-
ed the town, every one established himself at his plea-
sure in these sumptuous palaces ; even the subaltern
office! was lodged in vast apartments richly decorated,
and of -which he could easily fancy himself tolbe the
proprietor, since no one appeared but a humbly and
submissive porter, who with a trembling hand, de-
?ivered to him the keys of the mansion.

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166 moscow.

Although Moscow had been entered by some of
our troops the preceding daj, so extensive and so de*
serted was the town that no soldier had yet penetrated
into the quarter which we were to occupy. The most
intrepid minds were affected by this loneliness. The
streets were so long that our cavalry could not recog-
nize each other from the opposite extremities. They
were seen advancing with caution : then, struck with
fear, they suddenly fled from each other, though they
were sdl enlisted under the same banners. In propor-
tion as a new quarter was occupied, reconnoitring
parties were sent forward to examine the palaces and
the churches. In the former were found only old
men, children, or Russian ofiicers, who had been
wounded in the preceding engagements : in the lat-
ter, the altars were decorated as if for a festival ; a
thousand lighted tapers burning in honour of the pat-
ron saint of the country, attested that the pious M os-
covites had not ceased to invoke him till the mo-
ment of their departure. Thi)& solemn and religious
spectacle, rendered the people w^hom we had con-
quered, powerful and respectable in our estimation,
and jfilled us v\dth thp.t ^consternation which is the off-
spring of injustice. With cautious steps we advan-
ced through this awful solitude : often stopping and
looking feaifuUy behind us ; then, struck with sudden
terror, w^e eagerly listened to every sound ; for the
imagination, frightened at the very magnitude of our
conquest, made us apprehensive of treachery in every
place. At the least noise we fancied that we heard
the clashing of arms, and the cries of the wounded.

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dtodcow. 167

Approaching however, towards' the centre of the
town, and especially in the nei^borhood of tfce Bazar,
we began to see some inhabitants assembled around
the Kremlin. These deluded beings, deceived by a
national tradition, had believed that this citadel was
impregnable, and had attempted the preceding day
to defend it for an instant against our valiant legions.
Dismayed by their defeat, they contemplated with
tears, those lofty towers which they had hitherto re-
garded as the palladium of their city. Proceeding
further on, we saw a crowd of soldiers, who exposed
to public sale a vast quantity of articles which they
had pillaged ; for it was only at the grand niagazines
©f provisions that the imperial guards had placed sen-
tinels. Continuing our progress, the number of sol-
diers multiplied ; they were seen in troops, carrying
♦n their backs pieces of cloth, loaves of sugar, and
whole bales of merchandise. We knew not how to
account for this shocking disorder, when at length
some fusileers of the guards informed us that the
smoke which we had seen on entering the town pro-
ceeded from a vast building, full of goods, called the
exchange, and which the Russians had set on fire in
their retreat. ^ Yesterday,' said these soldiers, ' we
entered the city about twelve o'clock, and to-
wards five, the fire began to appear. We endeavor-
ed at first to extinguish it, but we soon learned that
the governour had sent away all the engines. It is
also believed,' added they, * that this fire, which can-
not Be subdued, has been kindled by the nobility^
t^ith an intention of exciting us to plunder and de-

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168 iioscow.

stioying our discipline ; and likewise with the deter-
mination to ruin diose merchants who opposed the
abandonment of Moscow.'

A natural curiosity made me proceed. As I ad-
vanced towards the fire, the avenues were still more
obstructed by soldiers and beggars carrying off goods
of eveiy kind. The less precious articles were des-
pised, and soon thrown away, and the streets were
covered with merchandise of every description. I
penetrated at length into the interior of (he exchange ;
but, alas ! it was no more the building so renowned
for its magnificence ; it was rather a vast furnace,
from every side of which the burning rafters were
continually falling, and threatening us with instant
destruction. I could still, however, proceed with
some degree of safety under the piazzas. These
were filled with numerous warehouses, which the
soldiers had broken open ; every chest was rifled, and
the spoil exceeded all their expectations. No cry^
no tumult was hedrd in this scene of horror. Every
one found abundantly sufficient to satisfy his thirst
for plunder. Nothing was heard, but the crackling
of the flames, and the noise of the doors that were
broken open ; and occasionally a dreadful crash, caus-
ed by the falling in of some viault. Cottons, muslins,
and in short, all the most costly productions of Eu-
rope send of Asia, were a prey to the flames. The
cellars were filled with sugar, oil, and vitriol ; these
burning all at once in the subterraneous warehouses
sent forth torrents of flame through thick iron gmtes^
and presented a striking image of the mouth of bell.

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IfOSCOW.

it was a i^ctacle both terrible ^nd affecting. Ereh
the most hardened minds were struck with a con-
viction that so great a calamity would on some future
dajy call forth the vengeance of the Almightj upon
the authors of such crimes.

The information which I endeavored to obtain^
with regard to the causes of this fire, were very un-
satisfactory ; but, returning iq the evening to the
palace where our staff was quartered, I met a French-
man there, who had been tutor to the children o^
prince ' This gentleman possessed much

general knowledge, and a sound judgment in politics.
His conversation was the more interesting, as he had
long lived among the Russian nobiUty, and was per-
fectly acquainted with their character and views.
Moreover, the events which happened in Moscow
since the battle of the Moskwa, had passed under
his observation, and although a Frenchman, he form-
ed one of the small number of those/ who, by their
talents and their prudence had always been on a foot-
iog of intimacy with count Rastopchin. This meet-
ing was extremely fortunate, as it gave me an op-
portunity of learning what I was so desirous to know ;
particularly the true character of the governor, who,*
notwithstanding the blackest calumnies, wiU always
be revered by his fellow-citizens, and will be cited
by future generations as a model of courage and pat-
riotism.

'Although the French advanced towards Mos-
cow in three columns,' said the tutor, ' so much

22

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170 KlOSCOttC

prudence was employed by count Rastopchin, in COH^
cealing the truth from the people, that none but the
nobility, nrid (he persons attached to the government^
were acquainted with the terrible disasters witH
which the city was threatened. This, it fe true, con-
tributed to prolong oiu: illusions^ ; but tvhen we saw
the Russian artny return within these^aHs, preced-
ed by thirty thousand wounded^ and dragging after
them the whole population of the country, the citi-
zens renounced their preaeeable occupations, and
abandoned themselves to the utmost agitation, AB
societies werfe dissolved', and the public institutions^
deserted. Even the mechanics, renouncing the
work that su^Ked their farriilies with bread, shtit up
their shops, and sharing in the consternation, which
was become universal, mixed with the immense
crowd which was running to the governor's hoiise,
to know whether they tvere to fly or remain.

^In this painful and critical situation, the count
Rastopchin, surrounded by the most ilfustridus of
the nobility, and by the richest and most esteemed
among the- merchants-, reminded his fellow-citizens
of the solemn promises which they had made to their
emperor. He recalled to their minds that memo-
rable scene, when the sovereign, the father of his
country, received from his childreti the homage of
their fortunes and their lives. At this recollection,
the governour, overpowered by the sentiments whicb
agitated him, was almost suffocated by excess of feel-
ing, and lost the faculty of speech. This silent scenei
lasted several minutes, and produced more tears> thaos

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noscow, ill

the most eloquent harangue would have done. But
the interest of the state, conquering a sensibilty so
natural and affecting, a nobleman in the assembly,
who, frpm his diplomatic office, was well acquainted
wijth the cause that had produced this disastrous war,
i^ddressed them in th^ following words : —

' ^ Inhabitants of Moscow ! If you knew how
fi^ paternal heajpt of our monarch has suffered, and
the means he has employed to ensure the repose and
Jbappiness of his empire — ^if you knew even how
much his loye of peace, and his diesire to maintain
even a disadvantageous alliance, have made him nci-
gloct the interests of his glory — you could then alone
^brm an adequate idea of that excellent prince, who
itold us six weeks ago, J have neglected nothing to
ensure the peace of my cour^itiy ; but the more sac-
rifices I made, the more were demanded by ourencr
my. For our jufitificatioa in the eyes of posterity,
we must avow that we have taken up arms, only in
the utmost extremity ; and at the moment when our
glorious empire was compelled to choose between
the chance^ of war, or the infamy of having its lau-
rels blasted. But, since injustice forces us to the
combat, why should we fear it. For more than a
century, war has a^lways been to us favourable and
glorious. The north was formerly the terror of the
south ; and now, whei^ the north approaches to civi-
lization, and wishes for universal peace, the south,
Rinded by an ungovernable and fatal ambition, aban-
^ idons its rich provinces, to overrun our frozen re-
^ious^ Js it then necessary always to he the oppre^r

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1 72 ' MOSCOW.

sor, in order not to be oppressed ; and must my pa^
cific sentiments be now the misfortune of my reign ?
In vain this scourge of mankind aUeges that he
' wages a war of policy, jand that this is the struggle
of civilization against barbarism ! a clumsy artifice,
which can deceive those only who are unacquainted
with our manners and principles. This civilization, <
so highly vaunted, what has it to fear from us, who
exhaust our treasures, who traverse the seas, and
explore both hemispheres, to cultivate and to natu-
ralize it in our climate ? And those to whom we go
for instruction, and who enrich themselves by selling
us the productions of their industry, these very peo-
ple dare to call us barbarians ? No, no, this is not the
motive of the war which the ungrateful Napoleon
makes upon us. He fears our rapid progress more
than our barbarism. In fact, what nation is virtuous
enough, not to be jealous of the miraculous protec-
tion which Providence grants to our empire. It is
scarcely a century, since Peter, of illustrious mem-
ory, placed it in the rank of great nations; and
since that time, how mp.ny countries have been sub-
dued !— how many cities have been captured ! — ^how
many provinces reduced to submission ! Yet, let us
rather consider as the noblest trophies, the towns
that have been founded, the districts that have been
civilized ; the universities, colleges, and institutions,
which have been established ; and you will find, that
In a short space of time, we have effaced the line
which separated the civilized from barbarized Eu-
rope. . It is our spirit of civilization, so closely re-

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HO scow. 173

Bembling that of which the French are vain, which
now attracts their hatred. They reproach iis for our
conquests over the Persians and Turks, pretending
not to know that it is owing to the terror with which
we have inspired the Musselmen, that Europe has
ceased to be invaded by these infidels. Hungary
owes to us its safety, and Italy its preservation .: far
different, in this respect, from our enemies whose
conquests are only a new subject of dissention and
war, with their neighbours."

* This is the substance of the memorable speech
which the emperor Alexander pronounced in the
assembly of the nobles ; and which the orator most
judiciously repeated, as best calculated to rouse the
courage of those who had not been present. Count
Rastopchin, who hitherto had listened with silent
attention, seeing that the inhabitants of Moscow,
were suflSciently prepared, rose immediately from
his seat, and, running to the balcony, which opened
on the great square, he thu^ addressed the people
there assembled :

f " Brave Moscovites !

' " Our enemy advances ; and you already hear
the roar of the cannon, not far from our suburbs.
This bad man wishes to overwhelm a throne, the
splendour of which eqjipses his own. We have
vielded ground, but we are not conquered. You
know that our emperor, in imitation of his ancestors^
resides in the camp. Our armies are almost un-
touched, and ^e reinforced every day by new levies ;

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174 MOSCOW.

but those of our. perfidious enemy, arrive exhausted,
annihilated. Insensible man ! he thou^t that his
victorious eagle, after having wandered from the
banks of the Tagus to the sources of the Volga, could
* fubdue one, which, reared in the midst of the Krem-
lin, proudly hovers over our heads, extending one
wing towards the pole, and reaching with the other
beyond the Bosphorus.

^ ^' Let us persevere, and I venture to predict
^hat our country will reappear from the midst of its
ruinfl, gi:eaJter and more n^aj.estic than before. B,utj
t,o attain an end so desi^ble consider, my friends,
that, the grealesjfe sacrifices must be made, and the
deaicest sdBectioM iienounced- It behoves you now
tA prove yourselves worthy descendants of the Po-
jiacskies, the PaUtsires, and of the Mininies, who, in
the most unhappy times, established, by their cour-
age, the belief that the Kremlin is inviolable. Cher-
ish this pious tradition, and maintaja it, by arming
yourselves against our dangerous enemy, who wishes
to annihilate our empire, and to pillage our altars.
Sacrifice every thing to obtain a victory, or be con-
tent to lose your honour, your fortunes, and yo^iyr
independence. But if God, in the dispensations of
his wisdom, should allow vice to triumph for a mo-
ment, remember that it will be your sacred duty to
fly into the deserts, and to forsake a country which
will no longer be yours, when the. presence of your
oppressors has polluted it- The inhabitants of Sa-
ragossa, still recollecting th^ immortal courage of
&eir ancestors, who to escape th^ yoke of the Rq-

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woscow: !?&

ictians, kindled a funeral p3e, land immolated their
families and themselves, have, Kke them, chosen
rather to perish under the ruins of their town, than
submit to injustice. The same tjranny now threats
ens to crash us. Let us show to the whole uni*
teise, that the glorious example of the Spaniards has
not been lost upon the Russians."

* After this speech the most violent agitation suc-
ceeded, and an ungovernable populace, ranning
through the principal streets, cried aloud that it was
better to perish than to outlive their country and their
religion. Those on whom nature had not bestowed
the most ardent courage, ran to their homes to save
their families from the impending danger. Some
fled with haste from the city. Others on the con-
trary, vowed to defend it, whilst the rest of the pop-
ulation seizing their arms, either took refuge in the
Kremlin, or, with torches in their hands set fire to the
exchange, which contained^ as you know, immense
riches, and where the French army might have found
means of subiristence during the winter.'

This was the account which the worthy tutor
gave me of all that had happened at Moscow, previ-
ous to our arrival there. We both lamented these
calamitous events ; but, the day being calm, we ho-
ped that the fire would not extend beyond the ex-
change. But what was our regret and our terror,
when on the following morning, at the dawn of day
(September 16), we saw the conflagration raging on
every side, and perceived that the wind, blowing
with violence, spread the flames in all dh-ections.

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17d' MOSCOW.

The tnmi heart-rending scene which my ima§ir
nation had ever conceived, far surpassing the most
afflicting accounts in ancient or modern history, now
presented itself before our eyes. A great part of the
population of Moscow, frightened at our arrival, had
concealed themselves in cellars or secret recesses of
their houses. As the fire spread around, we saw
them rushing in despair from their various asylums.
They uttered no imprecation, they breathed no com-
plaint, but, canying with them their most precious
effects, fled before the flames. Others, of greater
sensibility, and actuated by the genuine feelings of
nature, sgived only their children, who were closely
clasped in their arms. Many old people, borne down
by grief rather than by age, had not sufficient strength
to follow their families, and expired near the houses
in which they were born. The streets, the public
places, and p?ulicularly the churches, were filled
with these unhappy people, who, lying on the remains
of their property, suffered even without a murmur.
No contention or noise was heard. Both the coni-
queror and the conquered were equally hardened :
the one from excess of fortune — the other from excess
of misery.

The fire, whose ravages could not be restrained,
soon reached the finest parts of the city. Those pal-
aces which we had admired for the beauty of their
architecture, and the elegance of their furniture, were
enveloped in the flames. Their magnificent fronts,
ornamented with bas-reUefs and statutes, fell with a
dreadful crash on the fragments of the pillars which

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MOSCOW* 177

liad supported them. The churches, thou^ covered
with iron and lead, were likewise destroyed, and
with them those beautiful steeples, which we had
seen the night before, resplendent with gold and
silver. The hospitals too, which contained more
than twenty thousand wounded, soon began to burn-
This offered a harrowing and dreadful spectacle ;
almost all these poor wretches perished. A few,
who still lingered, were seen crawling, half bumt^
amongst the smoking niins; and others, groaning
under heaps of dead bodies, endeavoured in vain to
extricate themselves from the horrible destmction
which surrounded them.

How shall I describe the confusion and tumult
when permission was granted to pillage this im-^
mense city ! Soldiers, sutlers, galley-slaves, and pros-
titutes, eagerly ran through the streets, penetrating
into the deserted palaces, and carrying away every
thing which could gratify their avarice. Some
covered themselves with stuffs, richly worked
with gold : some were enveloped in beautiful and
costly furs ; while others dressed themselves in
women'a and children's pelisses, and even the galley
slaves concealed their rags under the most splendid
court dresses ; the rest crowded into the cellars, and
forcing open the doors, drank the most luscious-
wines, and carried off an immense booty.

This horrible pillage was not confined to the de-
serted houses alone, but extended to those which
were inhabited, and soon the eagerness and wan-
tonness of the plunderers, caused devastations

23

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17S uoscow*

livhich almost equalled those occasioned by the con*
flagradon. Every asylum was sdon violated by the
licentious troops. The inhabitants who had officers'
in their houses, for a little while flattered theni3elves
that they should escape the general calamity. Vaiii
illusion ! th^ fire^ progressively increasing, soon de-
stroyed all their hopes.

Towards evening, when Napoleon no longer
thought himself safe in a city, the ruin of wlnchr
seemed inevitable, he left the Kremlin, and estab-
lished himself, with his suite, in the castle of Peters-
koc. When I saw him pass by, I could not, without
abhorrence, behold the chief of a barbarous es^edi*
tion, who evidently endeavored to escape the de-
cided testimony of public indignation, by seeking
the darkest road. He sought it, hqwever, in vain.
On every side the flames seemed to pursue him,
and their horrible and mournful ^are, flashing on
his guilty head, reminded me of the torches of the
Eumenides, pursuing the destined victim^ of tibe
furies !

The generals likewise received orders to quit
Moscow. Licentiousness then became unbounded,
lire soldiers no longer restrained by the presence of
their chiefs, committed every kind of excess. No
retreat was now safe, no place sufliciently sacred to
afford any protection against their rapacity. Nothing
more forcibly excited their avarice than the church
of St. Michael, the sepulchre of the Russian empe-
rors. An erroneous tradition had propagated the be-
lief that it contained immense riches. Some grena-

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MOSCOW. 179

4ieni (Mrese&tlf entered it, and descended with tor-
<:hes into the vast subterranean vaults, to disturb the
peace and silence of the tomb. But instead of treas-
ures, they found only stone coffins, covered with pink
velvet, with thin silver plates, on which were engra-
ved the names of the czars, and the date of their
birth and decease. Mortified at this disappointment,
Ihej again seardied eveiy part of the building, and
at length perceived, at the end of a dark galleiy, a
lamp, the half extinguished light of which fell on a
small altar. They immediately proceeded towards
it, and the first object which presented itself to their
notice, was a young female, elegantly dressed, and
in the attitude of devoticm. At the noise of the
soldiers, the uidiappy girl screamed vidently, and
fell ipto a swoon. In that situation she was carried
before one of our generals.

As long as I have life I shall retain the impression
which the appearance of that young lady, pale, and
almost dying, produced on my mind. Her counte-
nance, in which grief and despair were equally legi-
We, was irresistibly interesting. As her recollection
returned, she seemed to deprecate the care which
was emploffed in recalling her to life. While we ga-
zed on her Jovely form, every bosom was inspired
with pity, and we all were anxious to become ac-
quainted with her history. The general, in particu-
lar, but from very different motives, seemed eager to
hear it ; and, sending most of those who were present
away, he be^ed her to relate to him her misfortunes.

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180 (loscoiv.

^ Of what use,' said she, ' would it be to nieii*
tion to 70U the wealth o£ a house, which will soott
be annihilated ? Suffice it, that the name of my father
is celebrated in the history of our empire ; and that
he is now serving with distinction in our army, which
is gloriously fighting in defence of our country. My
name is Pauhwna. On the day preceding your en-*
trance into Moscow, I was to be united to one of the
young warriors, who had distinguished himself at the
battle of Mojaisk. But amidst the nuptial solemni*
ties, my father was informed that the French were at
the gates of the city, and, suspending our marriage,
and taking my husband with him. they hastened to
join the army. Early on the following nK)rniag, be-
ing with my afflicted family, we heard the roar of the
cannon ; and, the noise evidently approaching nearer,
we no longer doubted that we must quit Moscow,
In the midst of this dreadful tumult, . I fled with my
relations ; but, when we arrived near the Kremlin, an
immense crowd met us, and, rushing hastily by, partr
ed me from my mother and sisters. I endeavoured,
in vain, to recall them by my cries. The. noise of
arms, and the cries of an infuriated populace, over-
powered my feeble voice, and in an iif^tant I was
rendered tnily miserable. The French, meanwhile,
penetrated into the town, and, driving all before
them advanced towards the Kremhn. To find a
shelter against their excesses, I, with many others^
ran into the citadel, which was considered a place of
isccurity. As 1 could not mix with the combatants^

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■Wi"

MOSCOW. 181

I retired to the church of St Michael, seeking refuge
among the graves of the czars. Kneeling near their
sepulchres, I invoked the manes of those illustrious
founders of our country, when, on a sudden, some
wicked soldiers broke in upon my retreat, and drag-
ged me away from an inviolable and sacred asylum.'
When the unhappy girl had finished her history, she
shed a torrent of tears ; and, throwing herself at the
general's feet, imploried him to respect her virtue, and
restore her to her relations. He was more interest-
ed by her beauty than by her tears ; but, pretending
to pity her misfortunes, he pledged himself to re-
lieve them. He offered her his house as a protec-
tion ; and, to retain her there, he promised to use his
utmost endeavours to discover her farther and her
destined husband. But, as I knew the disposition
of the man, I clearly perceived, that this apparent
generosity was only a snare to deceive the innocent
Paulowna. Th6re wanted nothing more to com-
plete the horrors of that day, when he resolved to
outrage virtue and seduce innocence ; and we after-
wards found that neither noble blood, nor the can-
dour of youth, nor even the tears of beauty, were
respected.

Penetrated by so many calamities, I hoped that
the shades of night would cast a veil over the dread-
ful scene ; but they contributed, on the contrary, to
render the conflagration more visible. The violence
of the iSames which extended from north to south,
and were strangely agitated by the wind, produced
the most awful appearance, on a sky which was dar-

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182 MOSCOW*

kened by the thickest smoke. Nothing could eqaal
the anguish which absorbed eveiy £wliiig heart, and
which was increased in the dead oC the night, by
the cries of the miserable victims who were savagely
murdered, or by the screams of the youc^ females,
who fled f(» protection to their weeping molheis,
and whose ineffectual struggjles tended only to in-
flame the passions of their violators. To these dread^
ful groans and heart-*rending cries, vdiich every mo-
ment Inroke upon the ear, were added, the howlings
of the dogs, which, chained to the doors of the pal-
aces, according to the custom at Moscow, could not
escape from the fire which suirounded them.

I flattered myself that sleep would for a while re-
lease me firom these revolting scenes ; but the most
fri^tful recollections crowded upon me, and all the
horrors of the evening again passed in review. My
wearied senses seemed at last sinking into repose
when the light of a near and dreadful conflagration,
piercing into my room, suddenly awoke me. 1
thought that my room was a prey to the flames. It
was no idle dream, for when I approached the win*
dow, I saw that our quarters were on fire, and that
the house in which 1 lodged, was in the utmost dan-
ger. Sparks were thickly falling in our yard, and on
the wooden roof of our stables. 1 ran quickly to my
landlord and his family. Perceiving their danger,
they had already quitted their habitation, and had re-
tired to a subterranean vault, which afibrded them
more security. I found thera with their servants all
assembled there, nor could I prevail on them to leave

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«K>scow« 183

it, for ^bey dreaded our soldiers more than the fire.
The father was sitting on the threshold o[ the door,
Bnd appeared desirous of appeasing, by the iJadrifice
dSlmown life, the ferocity of those barbarians, who
advanced to insult his family. Two of his dau^-
ters, pale, with dishevelled hair, and whose tears ad^
ded to their beauty, disputed with him the honour of
the rasfftyrdom. I at length succeeded in snatching
them by vidence from the asylum, under which they
would otfc«wise soon have been buried. These un-
happy creatures when they again saw the light, con-
templated with indifference the loss of all their pro-
perty, and were only astonished that they were still
aMve. Notwithstanding they were convinced that
they would be protected fiom all personal injury,
&ey did not exhibit any tokens of gratitude ; but,
like those wretches, who, having been ordered to
execution, are quite bewildered, when a reprieve
unexpectecBy arrives, and the agonies of death ren-
dered them inscMible to the gift of life.

Desirous of terminating the recital of this horri-
ble catastrophe, for which history wants expres-
sions, and poetry has no colours, I shall pass over,
in silence, many circumstances revolting to human-
ity, and merely describe the dreadful confusion
which arose in our army, when the fire had reached
every part of Moscow, and the whole city was be-
come one immense flame.

A long row of carriages were perceived through
the thick smoke, loaded with booty. Being too heavi-

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184 MOSCOW*

ly laden for the exhausted cattle to draw them along,
ihey were obliged to halt at every step, when we
heard the execration pf their drivers, who, terrified at
the surrounding flames, endeavoured to push forward,
with dreadful outcries. The soldiers, still armed,
were diligently employed in forcing open every doon
They seemed to fear lest they should leave one house
untouched. Some, when their carriages were laden
almost to breaking down, bore the rest of their booty
on their backs. The fire, however obstructing Ac
passage of the principal stroets, often obliged them
to retrace their steps. Thus wandering from place
to place, through an immense town, the avenues of
which they did not know, they sought, in vain, to
extricate themselves from this labyrinth of fire.
Many wandered further from the gates by which they
might have escaped, instead of approaching them,
and thus became the victims of their own rapacity.
In spite, however, of the extreme peril which threat-
ened them, the love of plunder induced our soldiers
to brave every danger. Stimulated by an irresistible
desire of pillage, they precipitated themselves into
the midst of the flames. They waded in blood,
treading upon the dead bodies without remorse,
while the ruins of the houses, mixed with burning
coals, fell thick on their murderous hands. They
would probably all have perished, if the insupporta-
ble heat had not forced them at length to withdraw
into the camp.

The fourth corps having received orders to leave
Moscow, we proceeded (September 17th,) towards

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itodcow. 185

Petex^g, where'oiir divisioDs were enciainped. At
that moment about the dawn of day, I witnessed the
most dreadful and the most affecting scenes which it
is possible to conceive ; namely, the unhappy in^
habitants drawing upon some mean vehicles all that
they had been able to save from the conflagmdon*
The soldiers, having robbed 4hem of their horsed,
the men and women were slowly and painfully drag-
ging along these little carts, some of which contain-
ed an infirm mother, others a paralytic old man, and
others the miserable wrecks of half consumed furni-
ture ; children, half naked, followed these interesting
groups. A£9iction, to which their age is commonly
a stranger, was impressed even on their features, and,
nvhen the soldiers approached theni, they ran crying
intotha arms of their mothers. Alas! what habita-
tion could we have offered them which would not
constantly recall the object of their terror ? With-
out a shelter and without food, these unfortunate be-
ings wandered in the fields, and fled into the woods ;
but wherever they bent their steps, they met the
conquerors of Moscow, who frequently ill-treated
them, and sold before their eyes, the goods which had
been stolen from their own deserted habitation^.

24

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/

P^ET It

BOOK ^I.

MALO-JAROSLAVITZ.

THE arrival of a victorious French army in the
ancient capital of tiie jczarsi^ In the richest and most
i^entral city of Russia, which a reli^ous ;belief ha^
liithelrto considered as sacred, was one of the most
jiBxtraordinary occurrenoes of modern history.

Our former conquests had,, for some years accus*-
lomed Europe to behold our vast and most astonish-
ing {dans crowned with complete success. But, of all
our expeditions, none had, like this, an appearance
X)f imposing grandeur^ calcA^lated to seduce those who
WM^fond of the marvellous ; while the difficulty of
*he entqiprise ^qu^ed eyexy romantic tale that the
Persians, the Greeks, or the Ron^ns^ had conceived.
The distance from Paris to Moscow^ nearly equal to
that which seperated the cajpital of Alexander, from
the residence of Darius ; the natuxe of the country
and rigour of the climate, which had been hitherto
supposed inaccessible to th^^mies of Europe ; Ih^

nesgpj
I. who,

recollection of Charles XII. who, wishing to attempt

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188 HAl^O-JARaSLAViTX.

a similar fttoject, did not dare to pass Smolensko \
the tenor o[ the Asiatic nations, astonished to see the
people who had fled before us arrive amongst them ;
all, in short, concurred to give to the progress of the
grand armj, an air of wonder, which recalled to our
recollection the most celebmted expeditions of anti-
quity.

Such was the aspect of our conquests, when ta-
]cen in the most brilliant point of view ; but, when
sound reason had taught us to look into futurity, no-
thing presented itscdf but the darkest and most&ight-
ful images* The horrible extremity to which the
inhabitants of Moscow had been reduced,- proved to
us, that we had no means of treating with the people
determined to make such immense sacrifiees ; and
that the vain-glory of signing a treaty of peace at
Moscow, had kindled a fire, the ravages of which
would spread through £ur<^, and would give to the
war a character so sanguinary, that it could end only
in the entire ruin of a generous people, or the fall of
that evil genius, whom God, in his displeasure,
tseemed to have designed a3 a new extirminating an-
gel to chastise mankind.

The wisest and most judicious witnessed, with
terror, the destruction of a city, which, within five
daysj, had becom,e a pr^y to th^ flames, and the light
of which illuminated our camp every night ^ There
^is no hope,' said they, ' of a speedy termination of
^ the war, even should we still continue our con-
' quests. Having completed the ruin of Moscow,

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1IAL0-JAROSLAVIT2. * 189

' \vtio kuows if^tber we shall not attempt that of
^Peteisbarg? And even when we have subdued
^ all Russia, may we not anticipate an expedition to
^ the Euphrates or the gauges ? Alas ! when a sove-
^ reign possesses only a rash valour, which is r)ot tern*
^ pered by wisdom, the brilliant luster of his arms
^ rend^s him like those dangerous meteors which
^ occasibnally appear on the earA, and excite the
^ most serious alarm.'

Although the nitii of Moscow was a great losato'
the Russians, it was still more sensibly felt by us,
and it ensured to our enemies all the advantages
which they had promised themselves from the rigour
of their climate. In vain did we represent to the in-
habitants that the burning of thdbr capital was useless,
and that the French army ought to rejoice at being
relieved from an immense population, whose natiual
ardour and fanaticism might have caused dangerous
seditions. After much reflection, I am convinced
that the Russian government had reasons to fear,
from the crafty and treacherous character of our chief,
that this population, instead of revolting against us,
might have become instrumental to our projects, and
that many of the noblesse, led away by an example
so dangerous, or seduced by brilliant, but deceitful
j^romises, might have abandoned the interest of their
country.

It was, doubtless, to prevent this calamity, that
count Rastopchin sacrificed the whole of his fortune
in burning Moscow, tiiinking that this great example

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woald be the only means of rousing the eaef^es of
the nobilitj, and, by rendmng us tha objects of theii
eiecration^ would excite in the minds of the peo]^
the most violent hatred against us. Besides, the city
beii^ provisioned for eight months, the French
army by ocupying it, would have be^n aMe to wail
^e return of spring, and then r^fiew 4ie csasnpai^^
with the aimies of reserve which were encamped at
Smolensko, and on the Niemeft ; while by buzniiss
Moscow, they would compel us to a precipitate re-*
treat, in ike most rigorous S€«ons o£ the year.

Their hopes founded on this ealcujiation, coukl
not be disappointed; for ouf fin^i^able army, though
it anived in the fine^ seasonsi bad lost a third of its
numbers, merely by the rapidity of our inarch ; an4
the enemy had no leasoQ to fear that we could mainr
tain any position, since ^eur want of discipline had
made a desert of alt our conquests, and our impro-^
vident chief had forraed no pl$.n*to facilitate our re-
treat-
In short, to finish this picture of our distresses, in
the midst of our apparent victory, th? whole army was
discouraged and worn out with fati^e. The cavalry
was nearly ruined, apd the artilleiyrhorses, exhaust^*
ed by want of food, could no longer draw the guns.
Althoi]^ we wefe the deplorable victims of the
conflagration of Moscow, we must do justice to the
inhabitants of that city- It is impossible not to adr
mire their generous devotedness to their country,
and we must acknowledge that they have, like the

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Spaidflrds, raised thems^ves, by their courage and
ftietr pemevejrance, to that high degree of true gloiy
which cmistitutes the greatness of a nation.

When live secoUect the auffetmgs that we had
endured, and the losses^ we had experienced by
fiitigue alone, prerious to our arrival ^t Moscow,
aiul that at a time when the earth, covered with it»
dioicest productions, c^ered us abundant resources,
one can scarcely conceive how Napoleon coidd be*
so Mind and obstinate as not immediately to abandon
Russia ; particularly when he saw that winter ap*
proached, and that the capital, on which he had so*
much depended, no longer existed. It seems as if
iKvine Providence, to punish him for his pride, had
deprived him of reason^ since he presumed to think
that they who had sufficient courage to lay waste
and destroy their cpuntry, would afterwards be weak
enough to accept his harll proposals, and sign a:
treaty of peace on the smoking ruins of their city.
Ihey who possessed the smallest foresight, predicted
our misfiMTtunes, and imagined that they read on the
waMs of the Kremlin, those prophetic words which
an invisiUe hand traced before Belshazzar, in the
nidst of his greatest prosperity >«-

«

* •Jfhe fiwtb caipyr, whea we s«t <mt from Glogan, consuted pf aijoirt
^i19t-eji|;ht thousand men, but when we left Mospow^ there were only twen*
fy thousand infantry, and two thousand cavalry. The fifteenth division^
consisting of tiiirteen thousand m«n at the commenoement of the campaigii,
was then reduced to four thousand-

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192 MALO-JAROSLATITZ*

^ God haih numbered this kingdom and Jifdsh^
^ it ; thou art weighed in the baknce and found want-*
< tiy ; thy kingdom is divided j and given to other
' hands.'

During the four days (17, 18, 19, and 20^ Sep-
tember) that we remained near Peteiskoe,* Moscow
did not cease to bunou In the meantime the rain
f<^ in torrents ; and the houses near the chateau, be-
ing too few in number to ccmtain the munerou^
tioc^ who w^re encamped tha:e, it was almost im*
possible to obtain shelttt ; men, horses, and carna-
ges bivouacked in the middle of the fields. The
staff-officers, placed around the chateau where their
generals resided, were established in the En^ish
gardens, and quartered uncter grottos, Chinese pa-
vilions, or green-houses, whikt the horses^ tied under
acacias, or linden-trees, were separated &om each
other by he^es or beds of flowers. Thi^ camp,
truly picturesque, was rendered still more extraor-
dinary by the new costume ^adopted by the soldiers ;
most of whom to shelter themselves fiom the incle-*
mency of the weather, had put on the same clothing
which U3ed tQ be seen at Moscow, and which formed
the most pleasing and amusing variety on the pub-
lic walks of that city^ Thus we saw, walking in our
camp, soldiers dressed a la Tarkure, a la cosaque., a
la Chinoise ; one wore the Polish cap, another the
high bonnet of the Persians, the Baskiis, or the Kal-

* Tliis imperiil chateau, of which \re hsrt already spoken is but a quar-
ter ofa Itag^ue from Moscow.

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fminAB. Ifiib»rt, 0W wmy pitsented thfe image of
a cmmui ; andfion what foUonred, it win justljr
aiid that oor latrMt commeiiced with a masqueradey
and anded with a fiia^fal.

But the abundance which the'doidiars then en-
jafed) iaade them foigat ^eir fiitigues ; with the rain
pQUfing on tineir heads, and their feet immersed in
the moA, they consaled (iMiMcAves with good dieer,
Md the tAvwatBgBB which tfai^ dailved fiom traffic-
ing in the phmler of Mmcow. AHhoogh it waa
fcNrhiddenlagD into the city, the soldiers, allmred by
the hope of gain, violated the order, and always re-
tiMied loaded with provi^ons and merchsmdise* Un*
i&s the |Hretenee of gokig on marauding parties, they
retufned near the Kremfin^ and dug amongst the
mini, where they discovered entire magazines^
whepce they di%m a pnrfumon Of articles of every
descrij^on. Thus our camp no longer resembled
an army, bat a great fair, at which each soldier, me-
taosKirphosedinto a merchant, sold the most valuable
aittdes, at an incoBsiderable price ; and although
eneafflfied in the fields, and exposed to the inclem-
ency 4^ the weather, he, by a son^olar contrast, ate
off China plates, drank ont of sSver vases, and pos-
sessed almost every ekgant and expensive article
which lujnny could invent.

The neighbourhood of Pet^Bkoc, and its gar-
dens^ at leflfth became as uohealthy as it was incon^
venient. Napoleon returned to establish himself at

25

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194 BIALO-JAROSL4yiTZ.

the Kiemlin which had not been bumt^ and the
guards and staff-officeis received cgimB to re-enter
the city (the 20th and 2l8t of September.) Accord-
ing to the calculations, of the engineers, the tenth,
part of the houses still remainedi Thc^r were divi--
ded between the different c(»rp& of. the ^and anx^.
We possessed the ikubouig of St Petersbiu^, whicli
we had at our fitst entiy into the city. On reneoter-
ing the city, we experienced the aoKNst heart^rendkpg
sensations, at perceiving that no restige iemaii»ediiif
those noble hotefe at whidi we had £om^edy been
estaUished. They were entirely deiiK^lifibed, and
their ruins still smokii^, wi^e scattered iadudi oour
fusion, that we could no longer distinguiidi even the
outline of the streets. The stone palaces were the
only buildings which preserved any traces of their
former ms^nificence. Standing alone amidst piles
of ruins, and blackened by smoke, this wreck of a
city, so newly built, resembled some of the venera-
ble remains o£ antiquity.

Each one endeavoured to find quarteis for him-
self, but rarely could we meet with houses whidii
joined together ; aiKi, to shelter some companies^ vw
were obliged to occupy a vast' tract of land, which
only offereda few habitations scattered here and there.
Some of .the diurches composed of less cqimbus^e
materials than the other buildings, had their xQofs
entire^ and were transformed into barracks and sta-
bles. Thus the hymns and holy melo4ies, which
had once resounded withia these sacred walls, now

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ttALO^JAROSLAVITZ. 195

gavef place to the neighing of hoises, and the horri-
ble blas[Aemie8 of the scalers.

Curious to know in what state I should find the
house at which I had lo^^ged, I long sought for it in
vain, until a neighbouring church, which had sur-
vired the general destruction, emibled me to ascer*
tain it I could scarcely believe that it was the same.
The interior was entirely codmmed, and the four
walls alone remained, wUch were full of chitds^,
owii^ to the fierceness of the fire. I was reflectii^
on the teniMe effects of this destructive element,
when the unfiMlunate servants of the house made their
appearance from the bottom of a vault. Emaciated
by famine and distress, I should doubtless have found
thdr feattires much altered, if the ashes and smoke
had not rendered them totally unknown to me. Hiey
resembled spectres more than human beings. But
what were my sensations when I recognized my
former host amongst these misemble wretches. He
vras concealed under the rags which he bad borrowed
fiom his domestics. They now lived all together,
for mbfbrtune had equalized every condition ! On
se^ng me, he bitrst into tears, particularly when he
preseirted to me his diild, half naked and dying
with hunger. Although his grief was silent, it made
a deep impression on my heart. He told me by
signs that the soldiers, after having plundered his
dwq)|ing vrhile it was burning, had also robbed him
of the very clothes which he wore. This distressing
picture touched me to the soul. I wished to allevi-

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u$,e bis 9uff0riiig8y though I feiured I had cm\j h«n«»
consolation to offer. The tarne man who a few daj»
belbie had given me a 99>)en£d lepast,: accqpteil with
gratitude a mox9el of bread.

Although the population of Meseoii^ had entiraly -

disap|>eared, there stiU r&ummd maaj ^ those tw#

fortunate being? whom misery had a^cttstoadfid to

look on all occurrcooes wilh indlfferenca Mesi af

them took shelter in cabins wbidi they had. thtdnr

selves constructed in the gardens or pahlk wattes^

with planks half bun^ which they had eoUeeted

from the ruins. There wiere also, a munber of w»r

fortunate girls, an<l these alone deiived any advaia*

tage from the plunder of Moscow. The acd^eis

eagerly associated with them, and whea they, vmm

once introduced into our quarteis, they aoonbeoaiiitf

absolute mistresses of them, and squandered away

all that the flames had spared. A amall number, how*

ever, really merited our regard by th^ edueatien^

and above all, by their misfortunes ; for boixible t0

relate, famine and misery had compelled their jno*-

thers to come and offer them to us. This imowii*-

ity, under such circumstances, recoiled on liiose who

had not sufficient virtue to resist the temptati^, and

who regarded with an eye of passicm the feorma wlaech

hunger had emaciated, anddiseasehadi^nAeteAdan*

gerous and loathsome.

Of all these victims, the most to be lamented, and
the most worthy of pity, was the ui^c»tunate Paulow*
na, whose history I have already related^ nod who,
deceived by an apparent generosity, bad been weak

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WALO^JAROSLAVrrZ; 197

Mcmgli to ))lace unlimited confidence in the general
Yriio had tecewed her. lliis man well knew how to
deceifve 1m iofiocefit captive, hj his assiduities and
&dse pity; and by feigning sentiments which he
JMS^ei koew, and taking advantage of the impossibil-
ity of discovering her parents or her lover, he per-
Bttaded her that she would find in him a friend and a
jpmtectfHT. On the iSsuth of repeated promises, this
umoceat female, after having spent several days in
unavailing tears, become a victim to the artifices of
her ungenerous lover- Alas ! the general was already
married, and she, who had expected to become his
wife, found hersetf only a dishonoured slave.

There y«t remained at Moscow a class of men,
the meet conlemptible of all, since they escapc^d the
panil^iment due to their former crimes by consenting
t0 commit still greater : these were the galley-slaves.
During the wfac^ time df the conflagration at Mos-
c&w they signalized themselves by the audacity with
which they executed the orders they had received.
Pfcmded with phosphorus, they lighted the .fire anew,
wbewver it appeared to be extinguished, and even
crept by st^lth into the houses which were inhabit*
ed, to involve them in the geneml ruin.

Several of these abject wretches were arrested
with torches in their hands ; but their punishment,
too prompt and summary, produced little effect
(24th September.) The people who always detest-
ed their conquerors, regarded these executions mere-
ly as the effect of policy. In short these victims
were too obscure for the expiation of such a crime ;

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1 98 HALO-JAROSLAVITZ.

and, above all, their trial wanting publicity and legal
form, threw no light on the cause of this dreadfd
calamity, and, could not justify us clearly in the es-
timation of the inhabitants.

When we entered Moscow, the Russian troops
fell back on the grand road of Wladimir ; but the
greater part of their army having descended the
Moskwa to go to Kolomna, took up their position
along the river. It is said that this very army, fol-
lowed by the whole population, in tears, passed, i
few days after our arrival, under the walls of Mos-
cow, while the city was 9till burning. The march
of the troops was illuminated by the light of the fire ;
and the wind, blowing with violence, even carried
into the ranks some of the ashes of their capital;
Notwithstanding such accumulated misfortunes, the
troops observed the greatest order, and maintained a
profound silence. Such resignation, at the sight of
a spectacle so melancholy, gave to this march a so-
lemn and religious air.

When the main body of the Russian army had
taken its different positions, the proprietors of the
country in the neighbourhood of Moscow, perceiv-
ing that the disasters of the war had highly exaspe-
rated the people against xis, availed themselves of
the popular feeling to excite a genera insurrection
against the common enemy. Many raised levies at
their own expense, and put themselves at the head
of their insurgent peasants. These forces, united to
the cossaks, intercepted our convoys on the great
roads. Bui the principal aim of these military prep-

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1SALO-JAROSLAVIT2. 199

^ratioBS was to harrass our foragers^ and above all, to
deprive them of the resources which they were still
able to procure from the neighbouring villages.

In digging under the ruins of Moscow, the soldiers
often found magazines of sugar, of wine, or of bran-
ny. These discoveries, although they would have
been valuable in happier times, afforded no great
^lief to an army which had consumed all the grain
of the country, and which would soon have neither
dread nor meat to eat.

Our caUle perished for want of forage, and, to pro-
cure othera, it was each day necessary to engage in
combats, always disadvantageous to us ; for at so
great a distance from our native country, the small-
est loss was sensibly felt.

Our real misery was disguised by an apparent
abundance. We had neither bread nor meat, yet
our tables were covered with sweet-meats, syrups^
and dainties. Coffee, and all sorts of wines, served
in china or chrystal vases, convinced us that luxury
might be nearly allied to poverty. The extent and
the nature of our wants rendered money of little val-
ue to us, and this gave rise to an exchange rather
than a sale of commodities. They who had cloth,
offered it for wine ; and he who had a pelissie could
procure plenty of sugar and coffee.

Napoleon buoyed himself up with the ridiculous
hope of reclaiming by mild proclamations, those
who, to free themselves from his yoke, had made
then: capital an immense funeral pile. In order to
seduce them, and inspire them with ceofidenc^, he

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200 MALO-JAAOSLAV1T2.

had diyided the rmnaios of the town into ^
appointed govemcm for each, and instiiuted mapih
trateS| to render to the few citi2^» who still remain-
ed the justice which was their due. The oonral^'
general Lesseps, ^ipointed governor of Moscow^
published a proclanj^ation, to announce to the inhab-
itants the paternal tntetttiims ci Napole<»» Thes^
kind and generam promises^ howeveri miver reached
the Moscovites ; and even if thej had^ the ngorons
circumstances under which' th^ were placed, woobi
have made them regard the prodamaticm as inmtting
ironj. Besides,, the ^eater part had fled behind the
Volga, and the others, who had taken ref^e in the
midst of the Russian wmj, ammated l^ a deouilj
iiatred, breathed only sentiments of vengeance !

In the meantijDQKe prince Kutusoff, hanng cen*
veyed the greater part of his forces to JLi^:t»tfcov%
between Moscow and Kalugfi, to cover the southern
provinces, so narrowly confined Napoleon, tbatinspite
of his diiferent manoeuvjres, he could not diMi^^ge
himself from his painful position, but was alwigra
constrained to fall back on bis own lines^It wm
impossible to advance towaida Petersbur g vrith out
leaving the Russian armyTnourrofr, aSe^BM^r^
ing our safety, by abandoning all coramunicatioa

with Poland. n^ m mib tM ik^^m SL£ff/XL

He could not march towaros Jaroslaw aYid Wa* ^
dimir; since every undertaking in that directi(»]t
would only divide his troops and remove him further
from his resources. Consequently nothing could be
more critical than the situation of the French army,

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MALO-JARO SLAV IT2S. 20l

now ericamped on the roads of Twer, of Wladimir,
of Razan, and of Kaluga.

Our head-quarters contintred at Moscow, the
neighbourhood of which was become highly infec^
tious. It was indeed totally deserted, except by the
peasants and the coSsacks, who, overrunning the
country, plundered our convoys, intercepted our cour-
iers, ma^d>€red our foragers, and caused us irrepar-
able evils. From that time our position became?
more and more painful Our poverty and the dis-
content of the soldiers, augmented every day ; and,
to complete our misfojlunes, there appeared no prp-
bability of a peace. ^B^kW

It would becurio^to relate the extravagant prow
jects which, under these circumstances, were dis-
cussed in the army. Some spoke of going to the
lUkraine-Aothers of marching on Petersburg.^||£ut
those who%ere mse, maintained that We ougbt^ ere
long, to return to Wilna. Napoleon, always most
obstinate when surrounded with difficulties, and pas-
iiionately fond of extraordinary exploits, persisted in
maintaining himself in an absolute desert, and
thought to frighten the enemy, by feigning to pas*
the winter there. To give some colour to this ridic-
ulous stratagem, he formed the plan of arming the
Kremlin, and even of making a citadel of the large
prison which was situated in the quarter of Peters-
burg^ smd vulgarly called the Square House ; and, te
complete the folly and absurdity of the whole, whea
every magazine was exhausted, and we bad nothing

26

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20S MALO-JAROSLAVITZ.

to eat, he ordered us to make provisions for two"
months. While yvc were occupied in meditating oir
ail these chimeras, and particularly on piDvisiomng
Moscow, without any resource, the report of peace,
believed by those alone who so ardently desired it^
filled our hearts with joy, and flattered us with the
hope that we should not be compiled toaltempt the
execution of projects absolutely impracticable. This
news acquired much credit from the armistice which
had been concluded between the cossacks and the
advanced posts of the king of Naples. Such a con*-
vention seemed to augur that there might be some
ho[)e of a reconciliation between the two emperors :
especially as we knew that general Lauriston had
been sent to the head-<]uarters of prince Kutusoff,
and that, in consequence of his interview with this
commander^.a courier had been despatched to St
Petersburg, to decide on peace or war.

In the mean time Napoleon, with his usual activ-
ity, daily reviewed his troops, and, by the severest
proclamations, obliged the colonels to maintain the
strictest discipline throughout their regiments. The
weather to our astonishment, continued remarkably
fine, and contributed much to the brilliancy of these
reviews. A circumstance so rare, in this advanced
season, was regarded as a phenomenon by the Mos-
covites, who, accustomed to see it snow from the
month of October, beheld wth surprise the beautifid
days which we enjoyed. The people, naturally su-
perstitious, and who had long and anxiously expected
the winter, as their certain avenger, impatiently

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MALCh*JABOSXATITZ. 203

(despaired c^ the assistance of Providence, and began
tto consider this prodigy as the effect of the manifest
fMxrtection which the Aimigbty had afforded to Na-
f)OJeon« But this apparent protection was precisely
the cause of hk rain, as it rendered him so idktuated
as to believe that the climate of Moscow resembled
ihat of Paris., His £6oli^ and imfnous ranity made
(faint hope to cemmand the seasons as he had comman-
ded men; and, abusing his good fortune, he believ-
ed that the sun of Austerlkz would enlighten him
«ven mAo the pole^ and that, lik3e another Joshua,
he would be able, by his voice, to arrest this lumin*
Siiy in its course, and compel it to protect him in his
ambitious career.

While we were deluded by the protracted nego-
ciadon, preparations were made to recommence the
war, but notfaiisg was done to guaatd against the ri-
gours of winter. Meanwhile our prospects became
more alarming. The longer our stay at Moscow was
continued, the more inconvenient and uncomfortable
it became. In proportion as we exhausted the neigh-
bouring villages, we were compelled to go to places
more reniote. Their distance rendered our excur-
sions as perilous as they were fatiguing. Setting out
at break of day, rarely did our foragers return before
night. These excursions, daily repeated, harrassed
our men, and destroyed our cavalry, parliciilarly the
artillery-horses ; and, to complete our wretchedness,
the audacity of the cossacks redoubled in proportion
33 our weakness rendered us defenceless.

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206 It^LO-JAilOSLAVlTZ/

certainty on perceiving that the cavaliy of the ItaKtwi
guards quitted thek good cantonni^c^ in the eavv*
rons of Dimitrow, to return to Moscow ; and pro-
ceeded thence to occupy the position of Cfaaropovoy
(16th October,) a little viUj^j situated on the road
from Borovsk, about six leagues from Moscow. At
the same time the viceroy ordered the tUrteenth di-^
vision to return, the fourteenth to advance, and ibe
cavalry of general Qrnano to march towards Fomia-
j&oe, whither it appeared that the whole of the fourth
corps was about to direct its course. The cossacks,
informed of this movement, availed themselves of the
opportunity, when the baggage of our light cavalry
was feebly escorted, to attack the convoy in the
neighborhood of Osighovo ; but seeing general Brous-
sier's division, they abandoned a part of their booty
and sheltered by the woods, escaped the pursuit oi
our soldiers. ^

We waited with the utmost anxiety the return of
the courier which had be^n despatched to Peters*
burg. Persuaded that the ajiswer would be favour-
able, our army neglected the necessary precautions,
and imagined itself in the most perfect security. The
enemy profiting by this indiscretion, attacked on
the 18th of October, tbie cavalry of the king of' Na-
ples, in the vicinity of Taroutioa, and ^rpr^ed a park
of twenty-six pieces of cannon, which Jhey carried off.
This attack, made at the moment when the cavalry
was foraging, was fatal to that division of the army,,
which had been akeady much reduced. The few
who remained, stiU continued to face the enemy ;

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VALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 207

and, supported by some Polish regiments, who were
less fatigued th^n ours, succeeded in recovering the
jpieces wjjj^h the enemy had captured. General
Bagawout, who commanded the fourth Russian
ccNTps, was killed in the action ; and general Bennig-
sen was M'ounded. We lost nearly two thousand
men ; and we particularly regretted the death of gen-
eral D«y, aid-de-camp of the king of Naples, who
had on every occasion given proof of the greatest
courage, and the highest talents.

The emperor was at the K]*emlin, occupied in
reviewing his troops, when he received this unex-
pected news. He immediately became furrious, and
in the transports of rage, exclaimed, that it was
treacherous and infamous ; that they had attacked the
king of Naples in contempt of all the laws of war,
and that none but barbarians would have thus yiola-
lated a solemn convention. The parade was imme-
diately dissolved, all hopes of peace vanished, and
the order for our departure was given that very eve-
ning. All the corps were to quit Moscow, and take
the grand road to Kaluga. We then hoped that we
should go to the Ukraine, to seek under a milder
sky, countries less savage and more fertile. But
those who were best informed, assured us that our
movement on Kaluga was only a false manoeuvre, to
conceal from the enemy our design of retreating on
Smolensko and Witepsk.

Those who did not witness the departure of the
French army from Moscow, can form but a faint
idea of what the Greek and Roman armies were.

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308 MALO-JARO S LA VITZ.

when tliey abandoned the ruins of Troy or of Car-
thage. But they who observed the appearance of our
army at this moment, acknowledged the accuracy of
those interesting scenes which are so admirably de-
scribed in the writings of Virgil and Livy. The
long files of carriages, in three or four ranks, extendr
cd for several leagues, loaded vTith the immense boo-
ty which the soldiers had snatched from the fiamefS ;
and the Moscovite peasants, who were now become
our servants resembled the slaves which the ancients
dragged in their train* Others carrying with them
their wives and childern, or the prostitutes whom
they had found at Moscow, represented the waniors
amongst whom the captives had been divided. Af-
terwards came numerous waggons filled with troph-
ies, among which were Turkish or Persian stand-
ards, torn from the vaulted roofs of the palaces of the
czars^ and, last of all, the celebrated cross of Saint
Iwan gloriously closed the rear of an army which^
but for the imprudence of its chief, would have been
enabled to boast that it had extended its conquests
to the very limU^^yEurgge, and astonished the peo-
ple of Asia witii iM'^urw' of the same cannon with
which the pillars of Hercules had re-echoed.

As we set out very late, we were obliged to en-
camp at a miserable village, only one league from,
Moscow, The cavalry of the Italian guards, which
still remained at Charopovo, marched on the follow-
ing day (19th October) and joined us at Patoutinka,
not far from the chateau of Troitsko^?, where Napo-
leen had established his head-quarters* Nearly the

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MALO-JAROSLAFITZ. 209

Whole armj was re-united at this point, with the ex-
ception of the cavalry, which was in advance, and
the young guards who remained at Moscow, to bring
up the rear. We experienced much difficulty in pro-
curing the means of subsistence, but we still continued
to bivouac ; and the carriages which every officer
brought with him furnished us with some provisions.
On the fdlowing day, the cavalry of the royal
guards were to have directed their course towaros
Charopovo, as well as the whole of the fourth corps ;
but at the moment when they were commencing
their march, they were recalled, and the prince order-
ed these troops to pursue the same route which we
had folliJwed the preceding evening. We crossed
the Pakra near Gorki. This beautiful village no lon-
ger existed but in name ; and the river choaked up
with the hjinsof the houses which had been a prey
to the flames, flowed in a black and muddy stream.
Above was the beautiful chateau o^Krssnoe.'which had
been entirely pillaged; but the elegance of the budd-
ing still formed a striking contrast with the rustic hills
on which it was built. Arrived on this point, we halt-
ed j and an hour afterwards left the high road to seek on
our right a path which would conduct us to Fomins-
koc, where general Broussier and our cavalry had
been for four or 6ve days in view of the enemy. Our
march by this unfrequented road was very tedious
and painful, but it procured us the advantage of find-
ing some villages, which, although they were desert*
ed, had not been so completely plundered as those on

27

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210 flULO-JAKOSLAVITZ.

the great load. We passed the night at Inatov^o^
where we discovered a chateaUy situated on an em-
inence which overlooked the country by which we
had arrived.

We afterwards continued our mar h, with an in-
tention to regain the road to Charopovo, which we
at length reached, near the village of Bouikasovo*
These geographical details, on which I dwell so much
will not appear tedious, when it is recollected that
they are absolutely necessary, in order to point out
the difficulties which we had to encounter in our op-
erations. Having only incorrect maps^ and marching
without guides, we could not even pronounce the
names of the villages described on our ch^s ; but
having at length discovered a peasant, we seized
him and kept him for two days, but he was so stupid
that he only knew the name of his own village.
This march was, however, very important for the
emperor, who followed us with the main body of the
army ; the prince, therefore, made me every day draw
out a plan of the road, to send to the major-general

Having surmounted every obstacle, we regained
the old road of Kaluga. In one hour afterwards we
arrived at Fominskoe. Broussier?s division was en-
camped in the environs of this village, and the caval-
ry placed in advance, were led on by the viceroy,
who, without delay, proceeded to reconnoitre the
height which the cossacks occupied ; but at his ap-
pearance they immediately retired, leaving his high-
ness at liberty to encamp peaceably on the ground
for which we expected to fight.

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MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 211

According to the militaiy report, the )>osition of
Fominskoe would have been advantageous for the
Russians, if they had resolved to defend it Through
the middle of the village, overlooked by a hill, ran
the river Nara, which, towards this point, owing to
the contraction of the valley, formed a little lake
surrounded by marshes. The whole ariny had to
pass this defile, and to cross a single bridge. This,
however, was reserved for the carriages, and another
eonstnicted for the infantry.

In 'order to execute this operation, and to permit
a part of the army to pass over before us, they al-
lowed us a day of repose (22d October.) During this
time, the Poles, commanded by prince Poniatowski,
marched on Vereia, where the Hetman Platoflf was
with his Cossacks. Napoleon soon followed us with
his accustomed suite, and in an instant the village
was filled with carnages, horses and men. But ow-
ing to the skilful precautions which had been adopt-
ed, all this passed without confusion; a circumstance
which excited not a little astonishment, for the co-
horts of Xerxes* had not more baggage than we.

The same day captain Evrard, who had been de-
spatched to Charopovo, announced to us that he had
heard a tremendous report in the direction of Mos-
cow. We afterwards learned that it had been pro-
duced by the blowing up of the Kremlin. The de.

* Anexpression which Napoleon made use of in the bulletins of the cams,
pai^ of 1809, when speaking of tl i e Austrian arm ies.

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21 2 HALO* JAliOiStA VtTZ.

MructioQ of this noble citadel, and of the magnificent
buildings which it contained, was accemplisbed bj
the young imperial guards, who, on quitting Mos-
cow, were ordered to destroy every thing that the
flames had spared.. Thus perished this celebrated
city, founded by the Tartars, and destroyed by the
French! Enriched with every gift of fortune, and
situated in the centre of the continent, she experien-*
ced from the passions of an obscure mid remiote isl-^
anderthe most lamentable of human victssitiides.
The historian wiU not fail to remail:, that the same
man who affected to sacrifice us to promote the pro*
gress of civihzation, boasted in his own bulletins that
be had caused Russia to retrograde^ at lea^ a htm*-
dred years.*

A part of the army having crossed the Nara^ the
fourth corps followed them about five o'clock in the
morning (23d October) and proceeded towards Bo-
rovsk. The enemy appeared no more (hiring this
day's march. The cossacks had fled before us, doubt-
less to announce to the general-in-chief, that we had
deceived his vigilance by leaving the new road to
Kaluga through Taroutina, and taking the' old <me
which passes by Borovsk-

/rhe enemy informed of our march, immediate-
ly abandoned his intrenched camp at Lectaskova,
but left us in doubt whether he would take the road
by Borovsk, or by Malo-Jaroslavitz. Napoleon oc-
cupied the former city, situated on an eminence,

* See the bulletins of the campaign in RassiL

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ItALO-JAROSLAVlTS. 213

around which ran the Prbtva in a deep and inacces-
^i^e channel.

The viceroy, who had encamped half a league
beyond Borovsk, in a little village on the right of the
load^ ordered Delzon's division to march on Malo-
JaroslavitZy and occupy that position before the Rus-
sians could seize on it This general having found
it without defence, took possession of it, with only
two battalions, leaving (he rest of his troops in the
rear on the plain. We consequently imagined that
this position was secure, when on the following
morning (24th October) at day-break^ we heard a
heavy cannonade in our front. The viceroy, sus-
pecting the cause of it, immediately mounted his
horse, and,: accompanied by hb staff, galloped to-
wards Malo-Jaroslavitz. On approaching this city,
the noise c^ the cannon redoubled: We heard the
sharpshooters on both sides, and at last we distinctly
perceived the Russian columns, who were advancing
by the new road of Kaluga, to force the position
which we occupied.

Onanriving below the heights of Malo-Jarosla-
vitz,* general Delzons came towards us, and, ap-
proaching the viceroy, said to him, ' Yesterday eve-
ning on my arrival, I took possession of this place,
and no one then aj^eared to dispute it with me, but,
about four o'clock in the morning, I was attacked by
a large body of infantry. Immediately the two bat-
talions flew to arms, but, overpowered by a much su-

♦ Sec the plan of the field of battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz.

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214 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ.

peiior force, they have been compelled to descend
from the heights, and abandon Malo- Jaroslavitz.' '

The viceroy feeling the importance of this loss,
and wishing immediately to repair it, gave ordei;s to
general Delzons to march, with his whole division.
An obstinate engagement now commenced, and fresh
troops having arrived to the assistance of the Rus-^
sians, our soldiers, for a moment, gave way. Gene-
ral Delzons thinking they were about to fly, rushed
into the thickest of the battle, in order to reanimate
them ; but, at the moment when he was defending
with obstinacy the barriers of the city, the enemy's
sharp-shooters, intrenched behind the wall of a ceme-
tery, fired upon him, and a ball entering his forehead,
he fell, and immediately expired. The viceroy, on
being infoi-med of this sad ^event, appeared to be
much aflfected at the loss of a general so worthy his
esteem : and after having paid a just tribute to his
memory, sent general Guilleminot to replace him.
He also ordered the fourteenth division to advance,
and relieve those who had been so long engaged.
Our soldiers now resumed the offensive, when several
fresh columns of Russians coming from Lectaskova,
forced them to retreat. We saw them descending
the hill with precipitation, and making towards the
bridge, as if they wished to repass the river Louja,
which ran at the foot of the eminence. But shortly
afterwards our brave men, rallied by colonel Fores-
tier, and seeing themselves supporteO)y the chas-
seurs and grenadiers of the royal guards, resumed
their accustomed courage, and once more ascended

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MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 215

the heights. In the meantime, a great number of
wounded who had abandoned the field of battle, and,
above all, the difficulty with which we mdntained
ourselves in Malo- Jaroslavitz, convinced the viceroy
of the necessity of sending other troops against the
continual reinforcements of the enemy. Pino's di-
vision, which, during the whole of the campaign, had
sought for every opportunity of distinguishing itself,
obeyed, with transport, the orders of the prince. They
rapidly ascended the heights, with their bayonets fix-
ed, and uttering shouts of joy, succeeded in estab-
lishing themselves in all the positions whence the ene-
my had driven us. This success, however, was dearly
purchased. A great number of .brave Italians were
the victims of their emulation of French valour ; nor
was it without sincere regret that we heard of the
death of general Levi6, whom fate permitted to en-
joy his new mnk only eight days. We were equally
afflicted, on beholding general Pino returning cover-
ed with blood ; who, though he sufiered much fi-om
the pain of his wound, felt stUl more sensibly the
death of a brother who had fallen by his side. Du-
ring this time the enemy's cannon raged with fury,
and his balls, carried destruction into the ranks of the
royal light troops, placed in reserve, and even amongst
the staflf of his highness. It ^vas at this moment
that general Gifflenga, a man of great merit, and ex-
traordinary courage, received a ball in his throaty
which obliged him to quit the field of battle.

The success of the day was decided, and we oc-
cupied the town, and all the heights, when the fifth

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U6 mAuO'iAMLOsuivirz^

diviaioa of the first corps joined us, and took up their
position on our left The third division of the same
corps arrived also after the battle, and occupied a
wood on our right* Until nine o'clock in the eve-
ning, our batteries and foot soMiers did not cease
their firing, at a veiy short distance from the enemy ;
but, at length, night and excessive weariness put an
end to this sai^uinary combat. It was, however,
nearly ten o'clock before the viceroy and the staff
were able to take the repose which was necessary^
after so many fatigues. We encamped beneath Ma-
lo-Jaroslavitz, between the town and the river Lofija;
but the troops bivouacked thfougfa the whole extent
of the positions which they had so gloriously carried.
The next day we were convinced that the obstina-
cy >vith which the Russians had disputed our posses-
sion of MalO'Jaroslavitz, was in consequence of their
intention of eflFecting a movement on our right, in or-
der to arrive at Viaziha before us, well persuaded that
our march on Kaluga was only a monoeuvre, with the
design of concealing our retreat About four o'clock
in the morning, the viceroy mounted his horse. We
ascended tte eminence on which the battle had been
fought, when we saw die plain cohered with cossacks,
whose light artillery vt^as firing on our troops : we al-
so observed on our left three grand redoubts. On
the preceding evening each of them had mounted
fifteen or twenty pieces of cannon, with which they
defended the right flank of Kutusoff, suf^posing that

• See the field of battle of Mulo-Jarosla?ilz,

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MAJUO-JAROSLAVITZ.

^I'if

Wei should have attempted to turn his position on
that aide« About ten o'clock the firing abated, and
at twelve it entirely ceased*

The interior of Malo-Jaroslavitz presented the most
horrid spectacle* On entering the town, we beheld
with grief thfe spot where general Delzons had
perished, and regretted that a premature death had
terminated his glorious careen We did equal jus-
tice to the memory of his brother, who received a
mortal wound, while endeavouring to rescue him
from the hands of the enemy. A little further on
they showed us the place where general Fontane
had been wounded ; and at the foot of the hill, we
9aw the grenadiers of the thirty-fifth regiment of the
line, who were bestowing funeral honours on their
brave colonel.

The town where we had fought no longer remain-
ed. We could not even distinguish the lines of the
streets, on account of the numerous dead bodies
with which they Were heaped. On every side we
saw a multitude of scattered Hmbs, and human heads^
crushed by the wheels of the artillery. The houses
formed a pile of ruins, and under their burning ashes
appeared many skgfetons half consumed. Many of
the sick and fsSfunded had, on quitting the field of
battle, taken lefuge in these hoiisesr. The small num-
ber of thiJm who had escaped the flames, now pr6-
sente<i themselves before us, with their faces black*
wetedj and tlieir clothes and hair dreadfully burnt la
the most piteous tone, they besought us to afford
them some relief, or kindly to terminate their suffer-

28

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218 BaLO-JAROSLAVITZr.

ings by death. The most ferocious were affected
at this sad spectacle, andj turning hastily away, could
not refrain from shedding teats. This distressin|f
scene made every one shudder at the evils to which
despotism exposes humanity, and we almost fancied
that those barbarous times were returned, when we
could only a^^ease the gods, by offering human vic-
tims on tfceir sanguinary altars.

Towards the afternoon. Napoleon, having arrived
with a numerous suit, coolly surveyed the field of
battle, and heard, without emotiori, the heart-rending"
cries of the unhappy wounded, who eagerly demand*,
ed assistance. But this man although accustomed
for twenty years to the calamities of war, could not,
on entering the town, repress his astonishment at
the desperation with which both parties must have
fought. Even had he intended to contintte his march
on Tula and Kaluga, the experience of this battle
would have deterred him. On this occasion, even
his insensibility was forced to render justice to those
whom it was due. He gave a convincing proof of
it by praising the vgiour of the fourth corps, and
saying to the viceroy, ' The honour of this glorious
day belongs entirely to you.'

While we were disputing with Ihe^nemy the po-
sition of Malo-Jaroslavits, more than ^ix thousand
Cossacks, unexpectedly rushed on the heaA-quarters
of the emperor, estabfehed at Ghorodnia, and tarried
off six pieces of cannon, which were posted not fbH
from the village. The duke of Istria immediately
galloped after them with all the cavalry of tke guards^

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MALO-JAROSLAVITZ^ 219

rand succeeded in retaking the artillery. The cos-
Qacks, cut* to pieces and dispersed, eflfected their re-
treat ; but in their flight, one of their numerous de-
tachments attacked the baggage of the fourth corps,
and would have captured it, if the cavahy of the
Italian guaras had not received them with the same
intrepidity as the imperial guards. The coolness of
Joubert, who commanded the escort, was much
praised in this affair. Seated in his carriage, he had
the resolution not to stir from it, but drew his sword
on the cossacks, who surrounded him, and defended
himself till he could obtain assistance.

From the commencement pf the campaign, the
son of the Hetman Platofif, mounted on a superb
white horse, from the Ukraine, was the faithful com-
painion in arms of his brave father, and always at the
head of the cossacks. He was often remarked by
0ur advanced guards, on account of his courage and
intrepidity. This fine young man was the idol of his
father, and the hope of tiie warlike nation which ex-
pected hereafter to obey hinv But destiny had pro-
nounced his doom, and the fat|i hour was at hand. In
a desperate charge of cavalry, which took place near
Ver^ja, between prhlce Poniatowski and the Hetman
Platoff, the Poles and Russians, animated by a mu-
tual hatred, fought with fury. Excited by tlie ardour
of the Qfcmbat, they gave no quarter, and on both
sides/i^U numerous brave men, who h^^ returned in
safety from former battles. Platoff, who saw his best
soldiers falling around him, forgpt his own danger,
^smd with an anxious eye, looked round for his fa-

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220 ?ijAto-jrAEOStAyiTa*

yourite son. But the moment approached when this
unfortunate father was destined to feel that life is
sometimes almost psupportable. The unhappy
youth had returned ifrom the heat of the battle, and
was preparing to renew the attack, when he receiv-
ed a mortal wound from a Hulan Pole.

At this moment his father appeared, and flying td
his assistance, threw himself upon him. On seeing
his beloved parent the son heaved a deep sigh, and
would have expressed, for the last time, his affectioq
and his duty ; but, a^ he attempted to speak, his
strength failed him, mA he breathed his last In the
meantime, Platpff, who could not restrain his tears,
retired to his tent, to give vent to his feelings. In
the first burst of agony he considered life a burden,
and could no longer endure the light. The follow-
ing morning, at day-break, the chiefe of the cossacks
came to express their grief, and earnestly to request
that they might be permitted to fender funeral hon-
ours to the son of their Hetman. Every one, on see-
ing this brave young man stretched on a bear-skin,
knelt spontaneously, flbd respectfully kissed the hand
of a youth, who, but for a premature death, would
have equalled the greatest heroes, by his valour and
by his virtues. After having, accordijpg to their ritu-
al, offered fervent prayers for the repose of his soul^
they removed him from the presence of his father,
and carried him in solemn procession to a lieigh-
bouring eminence covered with cypress, where he^
was to be interred.

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MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 221

The Cossacks, standing aroimd, aU arranged in or*
der of battle, observed a religious silence^ and bow*
ed their heads in profound respect, while grief was
painted in every countenance. At the moment when
the earth was forever to separate them from the son
of their prince, ihej fired a volley over the grave.
Afterwards holding their horses in their hands, they
dowly and solemnly marched round the tomb, with
their lances pointed towards the earth.

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BOOK VIL

DOROGHOBOUI.

The victory of Malo-Jaroslavitz discovered two
melancholy truths : first, that the Russians, far from
being weakened, had been reinforced by numerous
battalions, and that they all fought with an obstinacy
ivhich made us despair of gaining new victories*
^ But two battles more like this,' said the soldiers^
^ and Napoleon will be without an army.' It like-
wise discovered that we could no longer effect an
easy retreat, since the enemy, having at the close of
the engagement outflanked us, prevented our columns
from retiring by the route of Medouin, Jouknov, and
Elnva, and reduced us to the unhappy necessity of
retreating precipitately by the great road of Smo-
lensko, or in other words, by the deslert which we
ourselves had made. Besides these apprehensions,
too well founded, we also knew that the Russians
had despatched before us.the army oi Moldavia, on
the very route which we were to pursue, and that the
corps of Wittgenstdin was advancing to join that ar-
my.

Afler this sanguinary combat, those who judged
only from appearances and popular report, supposed
that we should march on Kaluga and Tula; but when

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224 * bonodBoiovt.

they saw that a strong advanced guard of the enemy^
instead of taking that direction, had outflanked our
right bj defiling on Medouin, ail who were experi^
enced in warlike manoeuvres perceived that the Rus-
sians had penetrated the designs of Napoleon^ and
that it was necessary for us to make a rapid march on
Viazma, to arrive there before them. There was ho
longer any question of Kahiga or the Ukraine, but
how to effect a safe retreat on the route of Bordvsk.
As soon as our retreat was decided, the fourth c6q>s
began its retrograde march, leaving all the first
corps, and the cavalry of general Chastel, at Jarosla-
vitz* These troops were to form the rear-guard^
at the distance of a day's march from us.

(October 26th.) We saw on our route to what
the unfortunate and memorable victory of Malo-Jor
roslavitz had reduced us. At every step were wag-
gons abandoned for want of horses to draw them^
and the fragments of innumerable military carriages
burned for the same reason. With such misfortunes
at the very commencement of our retreat, we form-
ed sad and mournful presages of the future. Those
who carried v«dth them the spoils of Moscow, trem-
bled for their riches. We were principally disquiet-
ed at seeing^ the deplorable state of the fe^le re-
mains of our cavalry, and we listened vrith melan-
choly foreboding to the frequent explosions of our
ammunition-waggons, which sounded from afar like
^tantthunden

It was night when we arrived at Ouvarooskcfe
Surprised at seeing the place in flames, we were hsi

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DOROGHOBOUi;

formed that orders had been issued to destroy every
thing in our route. Near this Tillage was a chateau^
which, although in the centre of a wood, possessed a
grandeur and magnificence equal to the noblest pala-
ces of Italy. The richness of the furniture corres-
ponded with the beauty of the architecture. We
saw there many exqu]£»ite paintings, chandeliers of
the greatest value,, and numerous lustres of rock-
crystal, which ^ve to these apartments, when light-
ed up, an appearance truly enchanting. Even these
were not spared ; and we learned on the morrow, that
our artillery-men, finding** the progress of the flames
too slow, had hastened and completed the destruc-
tion, by placing several barrdb, filled with gunpow-
der, on the ground floor.

The villages, which a few days before had afford-
ed us shelter, were now level with the ground. Un-
der their ashes, yet warm, and which the wind drove
towards us, were the bodies of hundreds of soldiers
and peasants. Many an infant w£^ to be seen cmelly
butchered, BXid many a femate savagely massacred
on the spot which had witnessed he^ violation.

We left the village of Borovsk, which had been
eqjgially a prey to the i^ames, on our right, to reascend
the Protva, and find a ford for our artilleiy. Having
discovered one, half a league from the village, it
would have been attempted by all our corps, but
many of the waggons, stickii]^ fast in the middle of
the river, so much encumbered the only spot at which
a passage there was practicable, that it was necessa-
ry to search for another ford. On reconnoitring the

29

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226 DOROOHOBour.

bridge of Borovsk, I found that it still remained, and
that it offered great facility for carrying over the
baggage. Immediately the prince caused the third
division to fall back, and thus, by means of the bridge,
opened to our corps a better and a shorter route. The
only danger which we had to fear, was the passage of
the waggons laden with ammunition, tlitough a town
completely in flames.

The fourth corps filed across this vast conflagration
without a single accident, and after having passed
through many frightful defiles, the night found us at
the ^xecr?ible village of Alferfeva (Oct 27th,) wheref
the generals of division with difficulty found a batti
to shelter them. That of the viceroy was so ruin-
ous, that we pitied those who were destined to inhab-
it it. In^ddition to all these evils, the want of pro-
vision aggravated our sufferings. That which we had
brought from Moscow, was almost consumed, add
every one, covetous of the little that remained to
him, retired to eat in secret the morsel of bread
which his industrj'^ had procured. Our horses fared
yet worse. A little thatch torn from the roofs of the
houses, was their only food. Many of them died of
fatigue and hunger, obliging the artillery to abandon
all that was not absolutely necessary ; and every day
redoubled, in a frightful manner, the explosions of
the waggons, which were blown up and destroyed.
(October 28th.)

On the following day we recrossed the Protva a
little below Verem. This town was burning at
the moment of our passage ; and the devouring

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DOBOGHOBOITI. 227

fiame3 ming in whirlvrinds oa every side, soon re-
^uc6d it to ashes. VereVa was the more unfortu-
nate, since, lying at a distance from the great road,
she had flattered herself that she might escape the
calamities hy which she' was surrounded. In tiulh,
with the exception of the engagement jjctween the
Russians and the Poles, she had hitherto experienced
little of the horrors of wajr. Her Selds had not
been ravaged, and her well-cultivated gardens were
now covered with vegetables of every kind, which
our famished soldiers devoured in an instant. At
. night we slept at a wretched village, of which we
could not learn the name. We supposed that it was
Miti'acva, because we were only a league from Ghg-
rodok-Borisov* This place was yet more miserable
•than the hamlet at which we bad halted the night
.before. The greater part of the officers passed the
night in the open air, which was the more unpleas-
ant, as the nights began to be extremely cold, and
little wood could be procured. Even the huts
which the generals had ha3tily greeted, were demo-
Jished by the soldiers ta supply a few scanty fires ;
and many who went to sleep in comfortable cabins,
on waking in the middle of the night, found that the
sky was their only covering.

Napoleon who preceded us one day's march, had
already passed Moja*sk, burning and destroying
«very thing' which he found on his route. His sol-
diers were so intent on this devastation, that they set
fire even to the places where we should have haltrd.
This expo^jcd us to great and unnecessary suffering ;

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228 DOROGHOBOUI.

but our corps, in its turn, burned the few houses
that the others had left, and deprived the army of
the prince of Eckmuhl, which fiarmed the rear-guard,
of all power to shelter itself, from the inclemency of
the night That corps had likewise to contend with
an exasperated enemy, which, learning our retreat,
hastened on every side to avenge itself. The cannon
which we heard every day, and at distances continu-
ally diminishing, sufficiently announced to us the
fatigues, the sufferings, and the dangers, of that di-
vision of the army.

At length, having passed through Ghorodok-Bo-
risov (October 29th,) in the midst of almost impen-
letrable clouds of smoke, we entered, an hour after-
wards, on a plain which appeared to have been long
since devastated. We saw at a distance the dead
bodies of men and horses : but the numerous intrench-
ments, half destroyed, the aspect of the ruined town
recalled to our memories the environs of Mojaisk,
through which we passed as conquerors, fifty-one
dayg before. The Poles encamped upon the ruins,
and at their departure burnt the few houses which
had escaped the first conflagration ; but the destruc-
tion had been already so complete that we could
l^carcely see the light of the flames. The only thing
which struck us was the newly erected tower, rising
amid the ruins, and, by its whiteness, forming a mel-
ancholy contrast with the black clouds which envel-
oped it. It remained entire, and the clock yet toll-
ed the hours, though the city was no more.

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DOROOHOBOUI. 229

Our corps did not pass through Mojai'sk, but, turn-
ing to the left, we arrived (October 29th,) at the site
of the village of Krasnoe where we had slept -at the
day after the battle of tlie Moskwa : I say the site of
the village, for the houses existed no longer, and the
chateau alone had been preserved for the use of Na-
poleon, We encamped round the chateau^ and, as
long as I live, I shall recollect how pierced with the
cold, we crowded together, and slept with comfort
on the yet warm ashes of the houses that had been
burned the day before.

(October 30th.) The nearer we approached to
Mojafek,^ the more desolate the countiy appeared.
The fields, trampled down by thousands of horses,
seemed as though they had never been cultitvated.
The forests, cleared by the long continuance of the
troops, partook likewise of the general desolation.
But most horrible was the multitude of deaid bodies,
which, deprived of burial fifty-two days scarcely
retained the human form. On arriving at Borodino,
my consternation was inexpressible, at finding the
twenty thousand men, who had perished there, yet
lying exposed. The whole plain was entirely cover-
ed with them. None of the bodies were more than
half buried. In one place were to be seen garment^
yet red with blood, and bones gnawed by dogs and
birds of prey ; in another were broken arms, drums,
helmets, and swords. Fragments of standards lay
scattered thick *around, and, from the emblems with
which they were adorned, it was easy to judge how

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230 ^DOROGHOBOUI.

much the Russian eagle had suffered an that bloodjr
day.

On one side we saw the remains of the cottage at
which Kutusoffhad encamped ; and more to the left
the famous redoubt. It yet frowned thn^ateninglj
over the plain. It elevated itself like a pyramid in
the midst of a desert. When I mused on what it
had been, and what it then was, I thought that I saw
Vesuvius in repose. Perceiving a soldier on the
summit, at the remote distance his immoveable fig-
ure had the effect of a statue. * Ah !' I exclaimed^
^ if ever a statue is consecrated to the demon of war
it should be placed on this pedestal.'

As we traversed the field of battle, we heard, at
a distance, a feeble voice appealing to us for succour^
Touched by his plaintive cries, some soldiers, ap-
proached the spot, and, to their astonishment, saw,
stretched on the ground, a French soldier with both
his legs fractured. ' I was wounded,' said he, ^ oa
the day of the great battle. I fainted from the ago-
ny which I endured, arid on recovering my sen-
ses, I found myself in a desolate place, where no
one could hear ray cries, or afford me relief. Fw
two months, I daily dragged myself to the brink of a
rivulet, where I fed on the grass and roots, and some
morsels of bread, which I found among the dead
bodies. At night I. laid myself down under the
slielter of some dead horses. To day, seeing you at
a distance, I summoned all my strength, and happi-
ly crawled sufficiently near your route to make my-
self heard.' While the surrounding soldiers were

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POROGHOBOUI. 231

expressing their surprise, the general, who wasinfor^
med of an occurrence so singular and so touching,
placed the unfortunate wretch in his own carriage.

My histoiy would far exceed the bounds pre-
scribed, were I to recount all the calamities which
that atrocious war produced. I will relate one cir-
cumstance alone, from which my readers may judge
of the rest. Three thousand prisoners were brought
from Moscow. Having nothing to give them during
their march, they were at night driven into a narrow
fold like so many beasts* Without fire, and without
food, they lay on the bare ice, and to assuage the
hunger which tortured them, those who had not the
courage to die, nightly fed on the flesh of their com-
panions, whom fatigue, miseiy, and famine had des-
troyed.

But I turn from a picture so shocking, and pursue
the course of my nari^ative. I shall soon have hor-
rors enough to describe, which fell to the lot of my
friends and my companions in arms.

We repassed the Kologha, with as much pecipita-
tion as we had formerly crossed it under the auspi-
ce of victory. The steps which conducted to the
river were so steep, and the frozen earth so slippery,
that men and horses continually fell over each other.
Happy would it have been for us, if the passage of
other rivers, so often multiplied upon us, had not
been even more dangerous than this.

We saw again the abbey of Kolotskoi. , Despoil-
ed of its former splendour, and surrounded by ruins,
it resembled more an hospital thafi a convent. It was

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232 OOROGHOBOUI.

the only house which had been spared since mar jp^-*
treat from Moscow. It was given to the sick and
wounded, who wished to breathe their last in its
peaceful asylum.

The fourth division, forming always the advanc-
ed-guard, halted at a miserable village, sitivstted half
a league to the right of the road, between the abbey
of Kolotskoi, and Prokoft vo. Of all the places of re-
pose at which we had hitherto stopped, this was the
most intolerable. Nothing remained but some
wretched sheds, and the thatch had been torn fmm
the roofs to give to the half famished horses. Here,
however, the prince and his staff were constrained to
pass the night

On the morrow (October 31st,) we commenced
our march at an early hour, and being arrivedat the
heights of Prokof^vo, we heard the sound of cannoa
so near us, that the viceroy, fearing the prince q£
Eckmuhl was pushed by the enemy, halted on one
ef the heights, and drew up his troops in order of bat-
tle to succour him. For some days, many per^ns
had complained of the slowness with which the first di*
vision marched. They had blamed the system of re-
treat by echelons,adopted by the commander-in-chief^
saying that it had lost three day's march, and thxis had
enabled the advanced guard of Miloradowitch easi-
ly to overtake us. Finally, they alledged that he ought
to pass rapidly over a country which did not afford
the means of subsistence. He might have replied in his
own justification, that too rapid a retreat woyld have
redoubled the audacity of the enemy, who, strong

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0OROOHOBOUU 233

ill light cavalry, could at all times overtake us, and
^ut in pieces our rear-guard, if it had refused the
combat. He could have added this maxim of war ;
—The more precipitate a retreat, the more fatal it
becomes, because the fear which it occasions in the
minds of the soldiers, is more to be dreaded than anj
physical evils. *

The viceroy had made these dispositions on the
heights of Prokoft^^o, to succour the prince of Eck-
muhl, but soon understanding that that marshal was
only harrassed by the cossacks, he continued hiB
march towards Ghiatz, always taking care that his
divisions marched in the greatest order, and halting,
whenever it was possible that the prince of Eckmuhl
could want his support. It is impossible to give toe
much praise to prinde Eugene, for his conduct in
these critical circumstances. He was always the last
of his column, and he now bivouacked a league on
this side Ghiatz, that he might be ready the more
promptly to repel the attack of the'^nemy.

The- night which the prince and' his staff passed
here was the severest to which they had been expos-
ed. They halted on a little hill, near the place where
formerly stood the village of Ivachkova. Not one
house remained ; the whole hamlet had been long
since destroyed. To complete their sufferings, a vio-
lent and piercing wind arose. Not a tree afforded
them shelter, and nature, in depriving that situation
ot wood, had refused the only resource which could
mitigate the severity of the climate of Russia.

30

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234 DOROGHOBOUI.

Although our own sufferings were thus great, we
were not insensible to those which our enemies endur-
ed. On approaching Ghiatz in the morning, we felt
the sincerest regret when we perceived that the whole
town had disappeared. We should have searched for
it in vain, had it not been for the ruins of a few houses
of stonfe, which showed that this had once been a place
of human habitation, and that we were not wander-
ing amid the remains of a forest consumed by fire.
Never were crueltj and revenge pushed so far. Ghi-
atz, constructed entirely of wood, disappeared in a
day, and left its former inhabitants, and even its ene-
mies, to regret the fall of its industry, and the des-
truction of its prosperity. It was the most commer-
cial and flourishing town in Russia. It contained
many excellent manufactories of cloth and leather,
and furnished the Russian navy with considerable
quantities of tar, cordage, and marine stores.

The weather, which was piercingly cold in the
night, was beautmil during the day ; and the troops,
though almost worn out by their sufferings, and ex-
posed to privations of every kind, were full of cour-
age, and eager to meet the enemy. All seemed to
feel that their only safety consisted in manfully strug-
gling with the difficulties by which they were siu*-
rounded. They had, for many days, been reduced
to subsist on horse-flesh ; even the generals had begun
to share the same food. The mortality of these ani-
mals was then regarded as a fortunate circumstance;
and without this resource, the soldier would have

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DOROGHOBOUI. 236

much more severely experienced the horrors of fa-
mine.

(November 1st.) The cossacks, whose approach
we had dreaded, no^ longer delayed to realize our fears.
Hitherto, while they had not been seen, the soldier
marched with his accustomed confidence, and the
fe^gg^g®" wstgg^'^s feebly escorted, were so numerous,
that they formed many distinct convoys, at consider-
able distances from each other. Near the i;uined vil-
lage of Czarevo-Saimich6 was a causeway, about five
hundred feet long, where the great road formerly
passed. The passage of the artillery had so worn it,
that it was no longer practicable, and to continue the
route, it was necessary to descend into a marshy
meadow, cut by a large river. The waggons, which
went first, easily passed over the ice ; but this, at length,
being broken by the multitude which thronged over,
it became necessary, either to expose themselves to
the greatest danger in attempting^ ford the river, or
to wait whilst some wretched bridges were construct-
ed in haste. In the meantime, the head of the col-
umn being thus arrested, fresh carriages continually
arrived. Artillery, baggagfe-waggons, and sutlers'
carts, all crowded one on another, and th6 drivers, ac-
cording to their custom, profited by the momentary
delay to light their fires, and to chafe their limbs be-
numbed with cold. While all was in this imagined
security aud complete confusion, on a sudden, the cos-
sacks, uttering the most frightful cries, nished from
a thick wood on our left, and precipitated themselves
on these poor wretches. All were panic struck at

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236 OOROGHOBOUI,

their sight, and almost unconscious of what they did.
Some ran to the woods ; others fled to their carriages,
and lashing their feeble horses, galloped in confu-
sion over the plain. These were most to be pitied.
The rivulets, the marshes, the slipperiness, or the
breaking of the ice, soon arrested their progress and
left them an easy prey to their pursuers. They were
most fortunate who, taking advantage of the numer^
ous carriages, intrenched themselves behind them,
and awaited that deliverance which was not slow in^
arriving ; for as soon as the cossacks perceived the
inf^ntiy advancing upon them, they retreated, after
having wounded a few of the drivers, and pillaged
some of the ammunition waggons.

The soldiers, to whom the care of escorting or
conducting the baggage was entrusted, profited by
the disorder which the presence of the cossacks ex-
cited to pillage and destroy what they had svirorn to
defend. From tl^Lt time dishonesty and theft spread
themselves so rapidly and so universally through die
army, that we were scarcely more secure amongst -
our own soldiers, than we should have been in the
midst of the enemy. Whatever the soldiers took a
fancy to, they availed themselves of some opportuni-
ty to purioih ; and encouraged by the impunity with
which they set all discipline at defiance, they procur-r
ed more frequent opportunities to pillage, by indus^
triously spreading false alarms.

The royal guard was clearing the defile of Cza-
revo-Sei'michc when the baggage was attacked. It
immediately received orders to halt,andi while it rest-i

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BOROGHOBOUI. 237

«d on its arms^ we saw the cossacks on our left, not
two hundred paces from us, reconnoitring our situ-
ation. It was even said, that profiting by the inter-
vals which subsisted between some of our divisions,
th^y fi'equently crossed our route. But their bmva-
does, exercised with success on the followers of our
camp, had no effect when attempted against the regu-
lar troops. When the royal guard saw the cossacks
thus hovering on their iladcs, they no longer continu-
al their march, but hatted by a wood not far from
y«litschevo. The other divisions, encamped near
the viceroy, who remained constantly in the rear,
since the Ri^sians appeared so determined toharrass
our retreat.

(November 2d.) On the morrow, three hours be-
fore day, we abandoned this position. Our noctur-
nal march was truly terrifying. The night \vas fear-
fully dark, and afraid of nmning one against another,
we were compelled to grope along our way with a
slowness which gave us full leisure to indulge in the
.most melancholy reflections. In spite of our precau-
tion, we often fell into the ditches on each side of the
road, and were precipitated into the deep ravines by
which it was intersected. At length our impatience
for the dawn became insupportable. We hoped that
its cheering light would render our march less pain-
ful, ami would protect us from the ambushes of an
enemy, whose accurate knowledge of the country
gave it a fatal advantage in all its manoeuvres..

We were assured, indeed, that we should soon
he attacked. Those who were acquainted with the

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238 DOROGHOBOUI.

countiy feared the position of Viazma, because tbej
knew that, near that city, the road from Medouin,
which part of the Russian army had taken after the
battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz, and which was shorter
than oiu^, joined the great road. They also regard-
ed the Cossacks, who had appeared on the preceding
evening, as the advanced guard of the numerous cav-
ahry of Platoff, and the two divisions of general Mi-
loradowitch, which would suddenly burst upon us
near Viazma.

Our pioneers* and the equippage of the viceroy,
were only a league from that city, and nothing yet
betokened the presence of the enemy. In the mean-
time, that prince being in the rear-guard with the
first corps, and perceiving that the distance between
the two extremities of his column hazarded the safe-
ty of the army, ordered the troops which were in ad-
vance to halt. In that interval, colonel Labedoy6re,
aid-de-camp to his highness, arrived from Viazma.
On hearing the dangers to which that officer had
been exposed, we doubted not that on the morrow
we should be compelled to force our way with the
point of the bayonet.

The viceroy halted at Foedorovsko^, although he
was expected at Viazma. The divisions of the krmy
encamped around him. At his right, facing the en-
emy, were the Poles, a little in front of the first corps
which, though it was the rear-guard, yet having been
sharply pressed, was but a short distance from us.
Prince Eugene had indeed slackened his march to
form a junction with them.

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D0R06H0B0UL 239

(November 3d.) Our divisions were on the march
€lt six o'clock on the following morning. As we ap-
proached Viazma, and our baggage was already in
that city, the cossacks showed that they were indeed
near us, by commencing a sudden and violent attack.
The waggons however drew up round a little church,
until the arrival of oiur troops put the enemy to flight.
But when these troops attempted to continue their
march, the first brigade of the thirteenth division,
comnnanded by general Nagle, which formed the
rear-guard of our part of the army, was attacked on
its left flank, a league and a half from Viazma. Nu-
merous squadrons of Russian horse issued from the
very road which we had dreaded, and threw them-
selves into the space which separated the fourth corps
from the first. The viceroy perceiving the danger
of his situation, suddenly halted his divisions, and
recalled his artillery, that the well directed fire of the
batteries might check an enemy, all whose manoeu-
vres tended efiectually to cut off* our retreat by pos-
sessing themselves of Viazma.

While these divisions executed divers evolutions to
frustrate the plans of the Russians, they were follow-
ed by the first cprps, and we remarked, with regret
that these troops, worn out, no doubt, by unheard-of
sufferings, and incessant combat, had lost that due
subordination, and undaunted coiuage, which we
had so often admired. The soldiers were regardless
of discipline, and most of them being wounded, or
sinking under fatigue, increased the crowd of mere
camp-followers.

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240 DOROGHOBOUI*

The fourth roips was thus left for a considerable
time, to sustain alone, not only the charge of a nu-
meiDUS cavaliy, but also the reiterated attacks of a
body of Russian infantry, consisting of more than
twelve thousand men. The first corps, however^
having filed oflf behind us, to the right of the road, at
length took a position on the left of the same road,
between Viazma and the point of attack, and thus re^
lieved the troops of the fourth corps, which the vice-
roy had caused to advance, at the beginnii^ of the
action. These were now enabled to occupy some
advantageous positions, which they found at the.right
of the lOad, and thus conjointly with the first coi^is,
were ready to receive the attack which the Ru9siansi
:^ain threatened.

Our fourteenth division, which had been in firont
of the thirteenth, suffered that division now to pass
it, and relieved it by becoming the rear-guard. The
fifteenth which had followed the fourteenth, remain*
ed with the royal guard, near Viazma, as a reserve*
The order of battle being thus arranged, the enemy's
infanty advanced, and the engagement commenced
with considerable warmth, but with a decided supe*
riority in artillery on the part of the Russians* The
miserable stSte of our horses would not permit us to
manoeuvi^ bur pieces with much celerity. It was m
this engagement that colonel Banco, aid-de-camp to
the viceroy, and commandant of. the second reg-
iment of Italian horse-chasseurs, iiad his head carri-
ed off by a cannon-balK

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■=q

nOROGHOBOUI. 2^1

Our troops, notwithstanding their inferiority,
xasdntained their positions Ibng enough for the bag-
gage to pass 'through Viazma, in the greatest order.
A party of the enemy^s cavahy then attempted to
break through our two wings. That which, during
our retreat, had advanced on our right, was repulsed
by a body of infantry furnished with cannon^ The
nther, on our left, was equally repulsed by the Bava-
rian horse, which were opposed to it, and by some
battalions of sharp-shooters concealed in the bushes,
with which the field of battle was covered.

This manoeuvre of the Russians, however, spread
the greatest consternation among those whom either
disease of body or want of courage had caused te
quit their r^nks, and to mingle with the followers of
flie camp. This description of persons was, unhap-
pily, very numerous, principally among the cavalry
#hich was almost entirely dismounted. They were,
in truth, become more than useless to us. In the
perilous situation in -^^hich we then foutfd ourselves,
they constituted our greatest danger. They not only
Impeded all our manceuvres, but they spread alarms
and disorder on all sides, by flying with precipitation
before an enemy with which their cowardice would
not permit them to fight. The cossacks, likewise,
seeing this feeble and unarmed multitude flying be-
fore them, acquked fresh courage, and attacked us
with redoubled ardour, beUbving that these columns
of fugitives were the only troops with which they had
to contend* • ' , ^

31 '

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^rVi DOROGHOBOUr.

Although we repulsed every attack, our situation
was becoming exceedingly critical, until, happily, the
grand ravine, situated at the left of oar route, and
above all, the excellent position which the duke of
Elchingen occupied, arrested the progress of theRus^
sians. That marshal, being left the day before in a
(K)sition hear Viazma to await the passage of the first
corps, and to take its place as rear-guard, had the
glory of extricating us from the greatest danger, to
which we had hitherto been exposed. During the
whole action he assisted in person, aAd he continuedl
to march with the viceroy and the prince of Eck-
muhl, that he might confer with them on the meas;-
ures which it was necessary to adopt

It was neariy four hours after mid-day, v^hen our
division passed through Viazma. Leaving the city,
we saw the third division encamped on a tittle hill on
our left. We owed much gratitude to that corps for
having so well defended that important situation*
The bravery with which those troops maintained their
ground, rendered the fierce and reiterated attacks of
an enemy, superior in numbers, completely ineffectu-
al, and contributed much to save the first and fourth
corps from absolute destruction. That last division
was thus enabled to accomplish its retreat behind
tlie river of Viazma, where the prince endeavoured
to repair the disasters of this battle so unfortunate,
and sustained under circ umstances in which the
most skilful combinations could scarcely promise a
Havourable issue. ^"^

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POROGHOfiOUI. 24S

Traversing the forest at the foot of the hfll of Vi-
azma, we overtook a convoy of the sick and wound*-
cd, which had left Moscow before us. These unfor-
tunate beings, after having been many days deprived
of medical assistance, and almost of food, encamped
in d)is jfi^rest, which served them for an hospital and
a grave. The horses had perished of fatigue and
hunger, and their guards had forsaken these unhap-
py wTetches, and abandoned them to their fate. We
encamped near them, and, at the approach of night,
kindled an enormous fire, at the back of a little bill
covered with brushwood. The royal guard was
round the tent of the prince, the thirteenth and four-
teenth divisions were placed on our flanks, while the
$fleenth division, though considerably weakened,
formed our rear-guard.

From this position the whole horizon appeared ou
fire. It wa3 occasioned by the destruction of those
houses* at Viazma, which had escaped the first confla-
gration. The third corps, which always preserved
its position to protect our retreat, although it was
separated from the Russians by a river, and by deep
ravines, seemed tq be frequently attacked. Often in
the silence of tlie night, we were startled by the rer
port of cannon, which, passing over the thick forests,
sounded in a peculiarly mournful and horrible man-
ner. This unexpected sound rcpcatc^d by the echoes
of the valley, was lengthened into dismal reverbera-
tions ; and often, when our harrassed powers} were
sinking into calm and refresliing repose, suddenly
jroused us, while we hastily and fearfully ran to arms.

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244 DOROGHOBOUI.

expecting that the enemy, which we knew to be set
hand, was advancing to surprise us*

(November 4th.) At one o'clock in the morning
Ae viceroy deemed it prudent, to profit by the obscq-
rity of the night, to effect his retreat, and gain some
hour's march on the Russians with whom he could
not fight, since famine would not permit us to re*
main one unnecessary day in a country completely
depopulated and laid waste. We marched along tiie
great road, groping our way in the dark. The route
was entirely covered with the fragments of carnages
;|ind artillery. Men and horses, worn out with fa*
tigue, could scarcely drag themselves along, and, as
soon as the last fell exhausted, the soldiers eageiiy
divided the carcass among them, and hastened to
broil on the coals that food, which during many days,
had constituted their only nourishment. Suffering
yet more from the cold than from hunger, they aban-
doned their ranks^ to warm themselves by a fire has*
tily kindled ; but, when they would rise to depart,
their frost-bitten limbs refused their office, a partial
insensibility crept over them, and they preferred to
Ml into the hands of the enemy, mther than make a
feeble effort to continue their journey.

Day had i)roken some time when we arrived at
the village of Polianovo, ne^r which mn the littlt
river Osma. The bridge was very . naito w and bad
The crowd which had to pass it was immense. As
eveiy one eagerly rushed on to clear this^aorow de**
^e, the viceroy was compelled to order the officer*
of hip staff to interpose their authority, and to maiH'-

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DOR^OftOBatTI. SIS,

tain fiome Htde order in so dangerom a place. He,
even condescended to stay himself, and to use eveiy
necessary precaution to facilitate the pasage of the
artill^, in the midst of a crowd of carriages which
pressed on towards the bridge. *

Beneath the town of Semlevo ran another branch
«f the river Osma, nlore considerable than the first.
The march of the troops was not, however, delayed.
They profited by a bridge both large and solid, to
extricate themselves from a situation, from which
the ,en6my might have derivedthe greatest advanta-
ges, had they been able to gain possession of it
Semlevo, built on a steep hill, commands the road
by which we arrived. At its foot is the Osma,
.which, almost surrounding it, would have rendered
it impossible for us to have forced that position.
^ Towards the close of the day, we foimd shelter
for the prince, in a little chapel situated near this riv-
er, which making a considerable circuit to the right
ftom Semlevo, returns again, and passes the road, at
the spot at which we now were. We had scarcely
established ourselves round the chapel, when the
camp-followers, having gone to forage, were attacked
by the cossacks, and fled back with precipitation.
Some had lost their horses, others their clothes, and
many were covered with wounds from the sabre and
the lance. It was necessary then to think of retreat-
ing, and while the baggage of the viceroy evacuated
the position, we saw the troops of the enemy advan-
cing to the banks of that branch of the Osma, which
we were about to pass. In these circumstances, we

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246 POROGHOBOUX.

were convinced how necessary it was in a retreat U>
secure well the passage of eveiy river. This, thougH
small, was scarcely fordable, and had no bridge. To
cross it, men, horses, and waggons, precipitated
themselves into the water. Our situation was th^
more deplorable, as the Russians, profiting bj our
distress, began to harrass the rear of the column, and
to spread consternation among the immense crowd,
which, remaining on the other side, saw itself com-
pelled to cross a deep and half frozen river, whose
banks were extremely boggy. During this time w^
heard the balls of the enemy whistling over our heads^
and threatening every moment to destroy us. Witk
this exception the passage of the river presented no-
thing unfortunate. Night approached, and the cos*
sacks discontinued theu- attacks. Our loss merely
consisted of a few carriages, which we were compel-
led to leave in the middle of the water.

This obstacle being surmounted, we entered on a
forest, at the extremity of which, towards the left,
was a cliatcaUj long ago pillaged. We established
^ourselves there for the night, near the village of Rou-
ibki. We had only horse-flesh to eat, except a little
flour that had been brought from Moscow, which re-
mained in one of the waggons. A very small quan*
tity of this was given to each officer to make his bou^
illif. It was carefully measured out to every one
with a spoon. As for our horses, we were well con-
tent if we could give them the straw, which in ow
former passage had served them for littert

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BORQGHOBOUI. 247

(November 5th.) Early in the morning we pur-
i^ed our retreat, and, without any fatal rencontre
with the enemy, anived at a large village, of which
some houses had been spared. We particularly re-
marked a large house built of stone, and we desig-
nated that village by the name of the Stone-House.*
We could rarely ascertain the names of the places
through which we passed, and we described them in
our journals by something characteristic, whether it
referred to their situation, or form, or any peculiar
hardships which we there endured. One was called
the Hurrah, from the dreadful cry of the cossacks*
Another, ^ That near which we were beaten.' We
spoke not of those at which we had suffered from
hunger, for that was common to every village through
which we passed.

Hitherto we had endured our misfortunes with
calmness and resignation, buoyed ap by the flattering
hope that they would soon cease. When we depart-
ed from Moscow, we had regarded Smolensko as the
limit of our retreat. There we trusted that we should
rejoin the divisions left on the Nieper and the Dwina,
and, taking these two rivers as the boundary of
our territories, should have the beautiful country of
Lithuania for our winter-quarters. We likewise
pleased ourselves with the thought, that Smolensko
abounded in provisions of every kind ; and that, to
relieve us from the labours under which we were ra-

♦ This village appears, from the map, to have b«en Jolkou Posloia Door.

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248 DOROCHOBaui* ,

pidly sinking, we should find the ninth division, com*
posed of twenty-five thousand fresh troops. This .
city was therefore the object of pur fondest wishes^
and our most pleasing dreams. Every one was anx-
ious to arrive thither, persuaded that within its walls .
the dreadful calamities which now environed us would
fox ever cease. The name of Smolensko passed firom
mouth to mouth, and each pronounced it with Confi-
dence to those who were sinking under their suffer-
ings, as their truest, their only consolation. There
was magic in the naiqe. It carried with it a happy
oblivion of all our pa§t miseries, and inspired us with
eourage to support the fetiguea which we were ye.t to .
encounter.

(November 6th.) We marched towards Smoleri-
sko, with an ardour which redoubled our strength ^^
and approaching Doroghghoui, distant fixun that
city only twenty leagues, the thought that in three,
days we should reach the end of all our misfortune^
filled us with the most intoxicatiqgjoy; when sud-
denly the atmosphere, which* had hitherto been so
brilliant, was clouded by cold and dense vapqyr?.
The sun, enveloped by the thickest mists, disappear--
V ed from our sight, and the snow falling, in Idf^
' flakes, in an instant obscured the day, and confound-
ed the earth with the sky. The wind, furiously blow-
ing, howled dreadfully through the forests, and over-
whelmed the firs, already bent down with the ice ;
while the country around, . as far as the eye could
reach^ presented unbroken, one white and savage
appejaxance.

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POROGHOBOUI. 249

The soldiers, vainly struggling with the snow and
the wind^ which rushed upon them with the violence
of a whirlwind, could no longer distinguish the road;
and falling into the ditches which bordered it, there
found a grave. Others pressed on towards the end
of their journey, scarcely able to drag themselves
along, badly mounted, badly clothed, with nothing to
eat, nothing to drink, shivering with the cold, and
groaning with pain. Becoming selfish through des-
pair, they afforded neither succour, nor even one
glance of pity, to those who, exhausted by fatigue
and disease, expired around them. How many un-
fortunate beings, on that dreadful day, dying of cold
and famine, struggled hard with the agonies of death!
We heard some of them faintly bidding their last
Ttdieu to their friends and comrades. Others, as they
drew their last breath, pronounced the name of their
mothers, their wives, their native country, which they
were never more to see. The rigour of the frost
soon seized on their benumbed limbs, and penetrat-
ed through the whole frame. Stretched on the road,
we could distinguish only the heaps of snow which
covered them, and which, at almost every step form-
ed little undulations, Uke so many graves* At the
0a^e time vast flights of ravens, abandoning the
plain to take refuge in the neighbouring forests,
croaked mournfully as they passed over our heads ;
and troops of dogs which had followed us from
Moscow, and lived solely on our mangled remains,
howled around us, as if they would hasten the peri-
od when we were to become their prey.

32

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i"
\

250 DOROGMOBOtJI.

From that day the army lost its courage and its
military attitude. The soldier no longer obeyed his
officer. The officer separated himself from his gea-
eral. The regiments disbanded, marched in £sorder.
Searching for food, they spread themselves over the
plain, burning and pillaging whatever fell in their
way. The horses fell by thousands.* The cannon
and the waggons which had been abandoned, served
only to obstruct the way. No sooner had the sol-
diers separated from the ranks, than we w^e assail-
ed by a population eager to avenge the horrors of
which it had been the victim; The cossacl^ came
to the succour of the peasants, and drove back to the
great road, already filled with the dying and the dead,
those of the followers who escaped from the carnage
made among them.

Such was the situation of the army, when we ar-
rived at Doroghoboiti. This little town would have
given new life to our unfortunate troops, if Napoleon
had not been so far blinded by rage, as to forget,
that his soldiers would be the first to suffer by the
devastation which he caused to be made. Dorogho-
boui had been burnt, its magazines pillaged, and the
brandy with which they were filled, had been poured
into the streets, while the rest of the army was j!^p
* ishing for want of it. The few houses which re-
mained, were occupied exclusively by a small num-
ber of generals and staff-officers. The few soldiers
which yet dared to face the enemy, were exposed to

^ * See the twenty^iki^ bulletin.

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DOROGHOBOUI. 251

all the rigotirs of the season ; while the others, who
had wandered from their pioper corps, were now re-
pulsed on eveiy side, and found no shelter in any
part of the camp. How deplorable was then the sit-
Qatiob of these poor wretches ! Tormented by hun-
ger, we saw themrua after every horse the moment
it fell. They devoured it raw, like dogs, and fought
among themselves for the mangled limbs. Worn
out by want of sleep and loog marches, they saw
nothing around them but the snow ; not one spot ap-
peared on which they could sit or lie. Penetrated
wth the cold, they wandered on every side to find
wood^ but the snow had caused it entirely to disap-
pear. If, fortunately, they found a little, they knew
not where to light it. I^id they discover a spot less
exposed than others, it afibrded them but a moment-
ary shelter, for scarcely had their fire kindled, when
the violence of the wind, and the moisture of the at-
mosphere, suddenly extinguished it, and deprived
them of the only consolation which remained, in their
extreme distress. In one place we saw a multitude
of them, huddledi together like beasts, at the root of
a beech, or pine, or under a waggon. Others were
employed in tearing down huge branches from the
trees, or pulling down by main force, and burning
the houses, at which the officers lodged. Although^
they were exhausted by fatigue, they stood erect.
They wandered like spectres through the livelong
night, or stood immoveable around some enormous
fire.

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252 0OROGHOBOU1;

The unfartunate Paulowna, whom ihe reader wffl
recollect, when he calb to mind the pillage of Mos^
cow, had hitherto accompanied us, and i^ared in aU
our misfortunes and privations. She endured thera
with the courage which her virtue inspired. Believ^
ing that she carried in her bosom a pledge of love^
which she imagined to be legitimate, she was eager
to become a mother, and [Jroud to fdloyt^ her hus-
band. But he, who had pledged himself to her hj
the most solemn promises, having been informed in
the morning, that we were not to take up our winter*
quarters at Smolensko, determined to break a con-
nexion, which he had regarded as merely temporary.
Inaccessible to pity, he approached this innocent
creature, and, under some specious pretext, an-
nounced to her that they must part. At this inteUi^
gence she uttered a cry of surprise and horror, and
franticly declared, that having sacrificed her family,
and even hew reputation for him, whom she regarded
as her husband, it was her duty to follow him ; and
that neither fatigues nor dangers should turn her
from a resolution, in which her love and her honour
were equally interested. The general little sensible
of the value of an attachment so rare, coldly repeat-
ed, that they must part, since circumstances would
no longer permit the women to remain vnth the
troops ; that he was already married, and that by re-
turning speedily to Moscow, she might find the hus-
band for whom her parents had destined her. At these
cruel words, his interesting victim felt almost annihi-
lated. Paler than when she rushed from the tombs

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POROGHOBOUI. 253

of the Kremlin, she uttered not a word. She sighed,
she wept^ and suffocated by her grief, fell into a state
of insensibility. Her perfidious seducer took advan-
tage of this to withdraw from her presence, not be-
cause he was overpowered by his sensibility ; he,
alas ! was a stranger to every tender and generous
feeling ; but to fly from the Russians, whose cries of
vengeance he already fancied that he heard.

)

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(

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BOOK VIII.

KRASNOE.

WHEN Napoleon quitted Moscow, he intended
to reunite his troops between Witepsk and Smolen-
sko, and make the Nieper and the Dwina the grand
line of his operations. The 6th and , 7th of Novem-
ber, having destroyed the third part of his army, he,
on his arrival at Smolensko, alledged that destrup-
tion, and the inclemency of the winter, as the reasons
of his abandoning his former design. But the true
only motive which induced him to change his plan^
was the news which he received at Smolensko (10th
November,) that Wittgenstein had forced the Dwina,
that Witepsk had been taken with its garrison, and
that the army of Moldavia, united to that of Volhy-
nia, having driven before it the corps of prince
Schwartzenberg, was taking a position on the Bere-
sina with the design of joining Wittgenstein, and ef-
fectually cutting off the retreat of the French array.
This manoeuvre of the enemy was so well known,
and appeared so natural, that a report soon spread
. among the troops, that it was the intention of the

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(

256 KRASNOE.

Russians to take Napoleon alive, and to put his whole
anny to the sword ; wishing, by this severe chastise-
ment, to give Europe an example of the punishment
which they deserved who disturbed the world with
unjust wars.

In truth, it was not the severity of a premature
winter which rendered the plans of Napoleon abor-
tive, because if he could have maintained himself be-
tween Smolensko and Witepsk, he would easily have
repaired the losses which he had hitherto suffered.
The principal, and the only cause of his ruin, was
his determination to proceed to Moscow, without
considering the forces which he left in his rear, and
to effect, at the price of our blood, that which the
most headstrong and imprudent monarch^ had not
dared to attempt.

The desire of pillaging that capital, and the am-
bition of dictating his laws there, made him sacrifice
every thing. He rushed on, eager to destroy the an-
cient palace of the czars, forgetful of the winter, and
all its horrors ; forgetful that Wittgenstein had never
adandoned the Dwina ; and that I'schikakoff, return-
ed from Moldavia, would attack him on his return
from his foolish expedition.

Napoleon, ignorant as yet of the progress which
the enemy had made on the Dwina, determined that
the fourth corps should pass the Nieper, and march
on Witepsk, to effect a junction with the garrison of
that town, corailianded by general Pouget. After

• Charles XU. of Sweden.

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KKASNOX. 267

ireconhoiiiing whether the approach of winterhad'still
left this route practicable, general Samson, with some
engineers which he commanded, was ordered to43Ut
verse the countrj'^, and examine particularly the banks
of the Wop. These officers had scarcely passed the
Nieper, when they fell into the hands of a party of
Cossacks, by whom all these rivers were infested. <*
(November 7th.) While the fourth corps pro*
ceeded in the direction of Witepsk, we left Dorogho-
bour, and passed the Boiysthenea on a bridge of
rafts, opposite that village. The horses found th#
greatest difficulty in climbing the opposite banfc
The road was become as slippery as glass, and thesd^
animalsj already exhausted, were no longer-able t^
draw- Twelve or sixteen horses harnessed to oniS
. cannon had scarcely strength to dr2^ it over the small*?^; >
est hill. It was intended to proceed the first day as
far as Zozeh ; but the road was so execrably bad,
that even on the following morning, the waggons had
scarcely reached the sixth league. Many cannon and
horses were of necessity abandoned ; and it wa3 on
that cruel night that the soldiery, no longer under
controul^ began to pillage the baggage. The ground
>vas covered with portmanteaus, boxes, and papers ;
and many articles stolen from Moscow, which some
remains bf shame had hitherto concealed, once more
saw the light.

The beautiful chateau of Zazfek presented us,
during the night, with a repetition of the scenes of
yesterday. With the exception of those whom the
pillage of the waggons had reanimated, we saw nothing

33 .

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258 KRAS?;OE.

on every side but men djing of hunger and of cold i
and horses totmented by thirst, endeavouring tf>
break the ice with their feet, to find that water which
we were unable to give them.

(November 8th.) Our baggage was so consider-*
able, Uiat the losses which it had sustained were yet
scarcely felt. We marched all day, and with mucli
alacrity, for we thought that, having quitted the great
road of Smokusko, aud pursued one which had ex-
perienced less of the calamities of war, we might find
some villages to shelter us from the inclemency cC
the night, where oui famished troops might obtain
refreshment, and especially where we might procure
gome forage for our meagre horses. But this flat-
tering hope was soon destroyed. The village of SIoh
boda, at which we were to sleep, presented us with
new horrors. Every thing was destroyed ; and the
Cossacks, hovering on our flanks, seized, and pillaged
or massacred, every one who, urged by necessity,,
wandered but a little way from the ranks to seek for
food. In these dreadful circumstances, general Dan-
thouard, whose talents had before proved so useful,
appeared to multiply himself, and to be present
wlicrever danger threatened, lie caused our artillery
to act with effect, on every point where it could be
brought to bear ; when^ as he was passing our lines,
a cannon ball fractured his right thigh, ^fter having
killed the orderly soldier by his side.

The viceroy, knowing that we ought to cross the

Wop on the following day, had sent general Poite-

vin forward in the night, with some engineers, to con-

ir

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4Struct ft bridge for our passage. We arrived on the
banks of the river at an early hour on the morrow^
when, to the great grief of the prince, and our ut-
most despair, we saw the whole arrny and the bag-
gage ranged along the Wop, without being able to
jpass it The bridge had been begun, and nearly
iinished, but the waters had suddenly increased dur-
ing the mght, and carried ii away.

The cossacks, whom we Jbad seen the night be^
fore, did not fail to advance upon us, when they were
apprised of our critical situation. We already
heard the fire of our sharp-shooters, who endeavoured
to keep them in check ; but the noise of tlie fire-arms
rapidly approaching^ convinced us that the audacity
of the enemy increased at the view of our dangers^
Jn the meantime the viceroy, whose noble soul was
jalway calm inlhe midst of the greatest danger^
maintained a presence of mind most important iu
circumstances so desperate. To reanimate the spirits
of the soldiers, who were njorc terrified at the pre^
sence of the cossacks, thai) st the dangers pf the
Wop, he despatched some chosen troops, who, re-
pulsing the Russians on our flanks, and on our rear
left us at liberty to attempt the passage of the river.

The prince, seeing that it was necessary for some
^officer of rank to set an example of courage, in cross-
ing first, ordered colonel Delfanti to place himself at
jthe head of the royal guard, and to pass the ford of
the Wop. The brave officer, whose intrepidity can-
pot be too highly praised, embraced with ardour this
opportunity of showing his devotion to the service ;

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260 KRASNOE.

and in sight ftf all our corps, with the water reaching
to his waist, made his way through the accumulated
ice, at the head of the grenadiers, and surmounted
eveiy diflSculty.

The viceroy immediately followed with his staff,
and, having arrived at. the other side, he issued the
necessary orders to facilitate a passage so dangerous.
The waggons now began to file off. The first passed
happily over, and after them a few pieces of artillery.
But as the channel was far below the level of the
ground, and the banks steep, and glittering with ice,
the only practicable point was where a gentle declivi-
ty had been dug to descend to the river. The can-
non, all following in the same track, formed ruts so
deep, that it was impossible tQ drag them out. Thus
the only accessible ford was soon choaked up, and
rendered utterly impassable for the rest of the ar-
tillery and baggage. '

In this situation every one yielded to despair ; for,
notwithstanding the efibrts ^lade by our rear-guard
to repulse the Russians, it was but too evident that
they advanced. Our very fear doubled our dan-
ger. The river was half frozen, and as the waggons
pould not possibly cross it, it was necessary for those
who had no horses, to determine to wade through the
atream. Our situation was the more deplorable, as we
were forced to abandon a hundred pieces of cannon,
and a great number of ammunition and provision
,^aggons, carts, and drousdikiy^ which contained the

f An elegant little catriaipe n^ucli used at Moscow. _^. ,

3yG(

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KRASNOE. 261

little which remained of the provisions of Moscow.
As soon as the necessity became thus apparent, every
one abandoned his vehicle, and hastily loaded his
horse with his most valuable effects. But scarcely
had any one resolved to leave his carriage, before a
crowd of soldiers giving the owner no time to select
w^hat he thought proper, violently seized on it and in
a moment pillaged it of every thing which it con-
tained, principally searching for flour and brandy.
The artillery-men abandoned their pieces, and on the
report that the enemy rapidly approached, immedi-
ately spiked them, despairing to convey them across
a river, every part of which was choaked with wag-
gons sticking fast in the clay, and the bodies of innu-
jmerable soldiers and horses who had been carried
away by the stream. The cries of those who were
crossing the river, the consternation of others who
were preparing to descend, and whom with their
horses, we every moment saw overwhelmed by the
current, the despair of the women, the shrieks of the
children, and the terror even of the soldiers, render-
ed this passage a scene so horrible, that the very
recollection of it yet terrifies those who* witnessed it.

Although it is most painful to recall to memory
the dreadful events of that day, I cannot prevail on
myself to forbear recounting one trait of maternal
love, so touching, and so honourable to human na-
ture, that the sight of it compensated for the afflic-
tion which those unfortunate beings occasioned me.

A female suttler of our corps, who had been with
qs during the whole campaign, returned from Mos-

•

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262 ' JCHASNOE.

COW, carrying in a wa^on five young children, and aft
the fruit of her industiy. Arrived at the Wop, she
regarded with horror the rapid stream, which com*
pelled her to leave on its banks all her little fortune,
and the future subsistence of her children. For a long
time she ran up and down, eagerly looking for a new
passage, when, returning in despair from her fruitless
search, she said to her husband, ^ we must indeed
abandon all ; let us now try only how to save our chil-
dren.' Saying this, she took the two youngest from
the waggon, and placed them in her husband's arms.
I saw the poor father closely hug the innocent crea-
tures, and, with a trembling foot traverse the river,
while his wife on her knees at the edge of the water,
now gazed eagerly on him, and then raised her eyes
to heaven ; but as soon as she saw him safely landed,
she lifted her hands in gratitude to Providence, and
leaping on her feet, exclaimed with transport, * they
ape saved, they are saved.' The anxious father de-
positing his precious burden on the bank, hastened
back, seized on two more of them, and again plunge
ing into the waves, followed by his wife, who bore
the fifth on one arm, and with the other hand clung
fast to her husband, reached the shore in safety. The
children who were first carried over, thinking them-
selves abandoned by their parents, had made the
air resound with their cries, but their tears soon
ceased to flow, when the affectionate family was
again reunited.

Night approaching, ^ve quitted this place of deso-
lation, and encamped near a wretched village, half a

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KltASNOE. 263

league from the banks of the Wop, whence we often
heard, in the middle of the night, the lamentable cries
of those who were yet attempting their passage. We
liad left the fourteenth division on the other side, to
hold the enemy in check, and to endeavour to save
;90me part of the immense baggage which we had
abandoned. I was sent on the morrow, to recall thig
division, and was thus enabled to perceive all the
extent of our loss. For more than a league, nothing
was to be seen on the road and the banks of the river,
but ammunition waggons, pieces of artillery, and the
most elegant carriages brought from Moscow. The
articles with which these waggons had been filled, and
tijat were too heavy to be carried away, were heaped
on every side. I saw many figures of antique bronze,
chandeliers of the greatest value, original and exqui-
site paintings, and the richest and most esteemed por-
celain. I percieved among the rest, a cup of the
most beautiful workmanship, on which was depicted
the sublime composition of Marcus Sextus. I took
it, and drank from it some of the water of the Wop,
full of dirt and ice. After I had thus used it, I cast it
from me with indifference, near the place where I
had found it.

Our troops had scarcely quitted the other bank
when clouds of cpssacks, no longer finding any op-
position, advanced to the river, where they found ma-
ny unhappy wretches who, feeble and diseased, had
been unable to pass the ford. Although our enemies
were now suiTounded and oppressed with plunder,
they yet stripped their miserable prisoners, and left

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264 luusNOE.

them naked on the snow. We could see, from tbd
opposite bank, the cossacks sharing among them-
selves the bloody spoils. If their courage had equal-
led their love of pillage, the Wop would not have de-
fended us from their attacks. But these cowardly
assailants were always stopped by a few bayonets^
or contented themselves with firing at us a few can-
non-shot, which often, indeed, reached our ranks.

The last night had been truly dreadful. To form
some idea of it, the readei* must picture to himself
an army encamped on the bare snow, in the midst
of the severest winter, closely pursued by the enemy,
and having neither artillery nor cavalry to oppose to
him. The soldiers without shoes, and almost wth-*
out clothes, were enfeebled by fatigue and famine.
Sitting on their knapsacks, they slept on their knees.
From this benumbing posture they only rose to broil
some slices of horse-flesh, or to melt a few morsels
of ice. Often they had no wood, and to make their
fires, they destroyed the houses in which the generals
lodged ; sometimes, therefore, when we awoke in the
morning, the village which we had seen the night be-
fore had disappeared, and towns, which to-day were
untouched, would form on the morrow one vast con-,
flagration. In the midst of these sufferings the vice-
roy, always at our head, never lost his calmness and
serenity of mind. Enduring comparatively far great-
er privations than we, he was always cheerful, and
preserved his presence of mind amidst the most urg-
ent dangers, offering, at the same time, in his own ex-
ample the ragst perfect model of military discipline.

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• KRASNOE. 265

The Cossacks, perceiving that we had quitted our
position, soon crossed the river and attacked our rear.
The fourteenth division, which had preserved twelve
pieces of cannon, formed the rear-guard, and repuls*
ed the enemy. In the meantime the prince and his
officers endeavoured to reduce to some order, and en-
tice back to their ranks, those soldiers whom misenr
had forced to leave their colours to search for food.
They attempted this, however, without success.
The number of the stragglers was so great, that it
was impossible either to arrest or to check them.
Even when some had returned to their duty, the de-
sertion soon recommenced. Hunger, imperious hun-
ger seduced them again from their colours, and
threw all our columns into confusion. The more
enfeebled we became, the more enterprising were our
adversaries. Their attacks on our rear-guard were
stlmost incessant, and we were frequently compelled
to halt, and contend against superior forces, which
endeavoured to overwhelm us on every side.

The rear of our column was briskly pressed,
when the royal guard, which formed its head, was
stopped before Dukhovchtchina, by some squadrons
of cossacks, which issuing from the town, deployed
in the plain, as if they would surround us. Seeing
that we were thus pressed on every side, our corps
fell into such disorder, that it resembled one imr
mense crowd, half of which were sick and disarmed.
In the meantime the enemy maintained his ground
on one side of us, and on the other attacked us with

84

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266 KRASNOE^

vigour. But the prince ever preserving his courage
unbroken, formed the Italian guard, and the Bavarian
dragoons and light horse, into a square, which, march-
ing in platoons, drove back the cossacks, and per-
mitted us to enter Dukhovchtchina. The thirteenth
division was formed in column close to these troops,
in spite of the multitude of stragglers, which, press-
ing round our battalions, impeded every manoeuvre.
That he might accellerate the march of the army, the
prince himself watched during the night, and super-
intended the repair of an old bridge which arrested
our progress. To encourage the engineers, he even
condescended to assist at the workj while every pri-
vation to which he exposed himself, rendered him
dearer to those whom he commanded.

The little town of Du hovchtchina, through which
om: army had not before passed,* had escaped the
general destruction. The inhabitants, flying at our
approach, left us some provisions, which we eagerly
collected, coarse as they were. But that which ren-
dered them most precious was the opportunity of
preparing them in some human habitation, and en-
joying for a little while a shelter from the excessive
cold of a piercing wind.

The viceroy despatched an officer towards Smo-
lensko, to announce to Napoleon the disasters which
we had experienced on the Wop. It was, doubtless,
to await the reply of the emperor, and to know wheth-

• Excepting- the cavalry commanded by general Grouchy, and the dlyls-
ion of Pino, when it returned fiom Porietsch.

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/

KRASNOE. 267

er we were yet to continue our march upon Wi-
tepsk, that we were permitted to enjoy one day's rest
at Dukhovchtchina. But, when that officer did not
return, it was determined that we should recommence
our march at two o'clock on the following morning.
We had been undist^||be4^||fng the whole of the
day, but. at ten o'cleck at rifght, while we were in-
dulging in a sweet repose, to which we had been so
longunaccustomed, the cossacks appeared before the
town, and directed their artillery on the fires round
which our soldiers were sleeping. Many picquets
were surprised ; those of the one hundred and sixth
regiment, placed before a church, suffered consider-
able loss ; but the presence of the viceroy soon re-
paired the disorder which so unexpected an attack
had occasioned. The troops were immediately col-
lected, and occupied every position which cpuld be
favourable to us in a nocturnal encounter. This at-
tack was followed by nothing of consequence, for it
was made by the cossacks, who took care to be far
enough away when they perceived that we were
taking measures to punish their temerity.

(November 12th.) The hour of departure being
arrived, we set fire to Dukhovchtchina, whose houses
had been so useful to us. Although sufficiently ac-
customed to all the effects of a conflagration, we
could not restrain our astonishment at the horrible,
yet superb spectacle, which it now presented, amid
the shades of a forest covered with snow, and strange-
ly illumined by torrents of flames. The trees,
covered with a sheet of ice, dazzled the sight

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268 KRAS50£.

a&d produced as with a prism, the most vivid and
variegated colours. The branches of the birch,
drooping to the ground like the weeping willow, ap-
peared like beautiful chandeliers, while the icicles,
melted by the heat, seemed to scatter around us a
shower of brilliant aQd|^pajrktt|g diamonds.

In the midst of a s^ene full of splendid horror,
our troops reunited, and proceeded from the town on
the road to Smolensko. Although the, night was un-
usually dark, the flames that ascended from the
neighbouring villages, which had been also destroy-
ed, formed so many aurorae-boreales, and till the
dawn of day, shed a frightful glare upon our march.
Beyond Toporovo, the road of Pologhi, which we
had followed when we came from Smolensko to Do-
roghoboui, was on our left. The snow, that covered
all the country, had neariy buried the villages, which
formed from afar only a black spot on one boundless
surface of white. The difficulty of approaching-them
saved many from the general desolation. When I
compared these peaceful asylums with the torments
to which we were a prey, 1 could not refrain from
exclaiming, ' Happy people ! exempt from ambi-
tion, you live tranquil and undisturbed, while we are
fast sinking under the most frightful calamities. The
winter preserves your existence, but it devotes us to
death. When the sweet spring shall have accom-
plished your deUverance, you will see our carcases
bleaching on the plain, and you will be doubly happy
in having suffered so little from our tyranny, and in

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KRASNOE. 269

having added nothing to the weight of our misfor-
tunes.'

The little river Khmost was frozen when we cross-
ed it, and the bridge, which was yet entire, enabled
us to pass on without del^fc^anger. Arriving at
Wolodimerowa, the vic^^v^tattished himself in a
chateau a Uttle above the itiSS^ where he had lodg-
ed on our former march. Encamping around him
we were certain that the cossacks, who had flanked
our route during the day, would halt on a height not
far distant from us, and accordingly they soon drove
in our foragers, who, urged by imperious necesssity,
had spread themselves through the neighbouring vil-
lages in search of food.

(November ISth.) We were now only one day's
march from Smolensko, where abundance would
succeed to want, and repose to fatigue. Impatient
to enjoy a happiness so long desired, we left Wolodi-
merowa long before day, burning, as was our custom
the cottages which had afforded us an asylum. Ar-
rived at the heights of Stabna, where the road of
Dukhovchtchina joins with that of Witepsk, we ex-
perienced an almost insuperable difficulty in ascend-
ing the mountain. Wherever we attempted to climb
it, we found one solid mass of ice, bright, and slip-
pery as glass. Men and horses rolled over one an-
other ; and happy were they who, after the utmost
exertion, could extricate themselves from the dread-
ful pass.

Before we arrived at Smolensko, where all our
misfortunes were to terminate, the most melancholy

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270 KRASNOE*

scenes presented themselves every' ittstant, and in-
creased our eagerness to reach that city, the object of
our most ardent prayers. Among the sports of cruel
fortune, none had more cause to complain than the
French women, ivhoj following us from Moscow to
escape the vengeaiice of Ihd Russians^ hoped to find
with us certc^in pmt|q|||gi|i Most of them on foot,
with shoes ofstulTj little calculated to defend them
from the frozen snow, and clad in old robes of siUc,
or the thinnest muslin, were glad to cover themselves
with tattered pieces of military cloaks, torn from the
dead bodies of the soldiers. Their situation would
have drawn tears from the hardest hearts, if dire ne-
cessity had not stifled, in every bosom the feelings of
humanity.

Of all the victims of the horrors of war, no one
inspired warmer pity than the young and interesting
Fanny. B eautiful, affectionate, amiable, and spright-
ly, speaking many different languages and posses-
sing every quality calculated to seduce the most in-
sensible heart, she now begged for the most menial
employment ; and the morsel of bread which she ob-
tained drew from her rapturous expressions of grati-
tude. Imploring succour from us all, she was com-
pelled to submit to the vilest abuse ; and though her
soul loathed the prostitution, she every night belong-
ed to him who would charge himself with her sup-
port. 1 saw her when we quitted Smolensko. She
was no longer able to walk. She was clinging to the
tail of a horse, and was thus dmgged along. At
length her powers were quite exhausted. She fell

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KRASNOE. 271

(HI the snow, a^i^kere remained unburied, without
exciting one emotion of compassion, or obtaining one
look of pity ; so debased were om* souls now become,
and our sensihHity quite extin guished. But what
lieed of more testimordHBHI^ calamities which

befel US'; we were all fipow-sutnh'ers.

It was horrible to sec^d t0 ^^^'^^ Ihe enormous
dogs, with shaggy hair^ which, driven from the villa-
ges that we had burned, followed us along our march.
Dying with hunger, they uttered one incessant and
frightful howl, and often disputed with the soldiers
■4» the carcases of the horses which fell on our route.
In addition to this, the ravens, with which Russia
abounds, attracted by the scent of the dead bodies,
hovered over us tn black and innumerable crowds,
and bv their cries of mournful presage, struck the
stoute^ hearts with terror.

Happily we were only two leagues from Smolen-
sko, and the tower of its celebrated church, which
we already saw at a distance, flattering us with the
sweetest illusions, seemed the most lovely object in
the whole perspective. An hour before we arrived
we left the fourteenth division, with the few Bavarian
Jiiorse which remained, to observe and hold in check
the cossacks, who, increasing in numbers every mo-
ment, seemed determined to follow us to the very
walls of Smolensko. But what was our grief, when
we learned, in the very suburbs of the city, that the
ninth corps was gone, that it had not even halted at
Smolensko, and that the provisions were all consum-
ed ! A thunder-bolt falling at our feet would have

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272 KRASNOE.

confounded us less than did this^Cwl* Our sensed
were for a moment suspended. We would not be-
lieve the fact ; but our eyes soon gave us sad confii-
mationofthe tnith, when \vc saw the garrison *r^
Smolensko eagerlyffiisliinglfcitj and knme4iately d^
vouring the horseA which «^ cry moment dropped,
exhausted witt) fat^H^^jj^d Imnger. We then no
longer doubted thai famine reigned in that city,^
which, till this moment we had regarded as the abode
of plenty. ♦

As we were musing on the sadness of our lot, its
rigour was somewhat alleviated by the |)romiee of a#
little rice, flour and buiscuit which yet remained in,
the magazines. The hope of this reanimated o«r
drooping courage, when suddenly we were fiBed with
new consternation. We had scarcely arrived with-
in the |at6s of Smolensko, when crowds or strag-
glers covWed with blood, rnshed upon us, and an-
nounced that the cossacks werfe only two hundred
paces distant The next moment, captain Tiresel,
aid-de-camp to geote'ral Guilleminot, who had been
left behind with the fourteenth division, came at full
speed. He apprised us that that division hcSi taken
up a position in a chateau^ in a wood which cow&
manded the road ; that the enemy had surrounded
it, but that being perfectly intrenched round the chn-
teauj and the approaches being defended by pali-
sades, the cossacks, despaired of ^attackingthem with
success, and retired to fall upon the stragglers ; liiat
they had speedily overtaken these unhapj)y beings,
had massacred some, and wounded a great number-

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; ^ krasnoe; 273

The ri>ad was |gpb|pd^ith these miserable wretch*
ea, and presented a spectacle well calculated to ex-
cite oiir liveliest cotapassion. We saw them, more .
over, ajt a dist^ce descending the mountain of Smo-

^lensko. The declivity dflPNl!^ rapid and the frost
had rendered it so slipjH^, Jtpjt numbers of these
unfortunate beings, un£^|j^ yk support themselved,
foUed down the declivity, and immediately peiished.

^ . Having left the royal guard on this height, to pro-

• te«the division of Broussier, which formed the rear-
guard, we descended towaM^the Nieper, and endea-

l^youre4 to center tip city* Beyond the bridge was

. ;the junction rf the road of Doro^obou'i, with that

4l!pm Yal^tina, which all the other divisions had tak.

ep. ; ;Al'^^ thl^e corps had not passed the Wop, they

l^ef detained a great ps^rt of their artillery and bag?

*>'^ ^agp. The numerous carriages which flocked in on
evfij^r side, mingled with the foot soMiers and the
davajry ; and all of them attempting to rush into Smo-
ktnilll^ where they had been promised some rations of
Toread, the greatest confusion ensued. The entrance
was completely choaked up, and more than three
^ours elapsed ere w-e could penetrate into the city.

► (November 13th.) The wind was tempestuous, and
the cold excessive. . We were assured that the ther-
mometer, was more than twenty-two degrees below
the freezing point. Notwithstanding this, every one
ran into the streets, hoping that he might be able to
purchase provisions. Smolensko was built on the
side of a mountain, and the ascent was so slippery,

36

r

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274 • ItKASKOE.

that it was necessary to crawl an'<HV kne^, and t9
hold by the rocks which projected above the snow^
in order to gain the summit. We at length reached
the top, where we found the great square, and those
houses which had suflMHRlMt from the conflagf ation.
Although the weatblr was'llsupportably severe, we
sought rather for food4to» for lo<^ng. Some sol-
diers of the garrison, to whom a little bread had beeit
distributed, were compelled by force to sell it to us.
Others immediately entreated thosq who had boii^ht '
it, ta spare it, and soldiers and officers mingled to-
gether, were ravenously devourthg in the streets^ ^
every kind of provision which they eould procure,
however coarse or disgusting. In the meantime th«i
eossacks arrived. We distinctly p#rceiv^4lweiii
scouring the- heights, and firing on the troops Swi!t|t
defiled belwv the town. Our fourth division being
actively engaged with them, the viceroy was eMcer
to transport himself to that point. He was accom-
panied, along a difficult and perilous road, by gfoerat
Gifflenge, and by his aids-de-qamp, Tacher, Labe-
doy^rej and Mejean, and by Corner, officer of artille-
ry, all indefatigable in misfortune, and always readjf
to brave the greatest dangers.

We had great difficulty in finding shelter, for the
houses wepefew, and the crowd,- which was to oc-
cupy them immense. At length, h«aped on^ upon
another, in the great halls whose arches had defied
the flames, we waited with impatience for the distri-
bution of the bread. But the formalities necessary
to be gone through were so long, that night came oa

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KRASNOE. ' 275

*re any thing was delivered. It was now necessary
to run anew into the streets, and with money in our
hands, seek in the quarters of the imperial guard foar
something to support our existence. They, more
favoured than the rest of the army, often rolled in
abundance, when we were destitutn of every comfort
Thus, Smolensk©, which we had thought would
have been the termination of our misfortunes, cruelly
deceived our dearest hopes, and became the witness of
our greatest disgrace, and our most profound despair.
The soldiers, who could not find a shelter, encamp-
ed in the middle pf the streets, and some hours af-
ter, were found dead around the fires which they had
kindled. The hospitals, the churches, and the other
public buildings, were unable to contain the sick^
who presented themselves by thousands. These un-
happy beings, exposed to all the rigours of a frosty
night, lay uncovered on the waggons, or in the am-
munition-carts, or perished in vainly searching for an
asylum. In fine^ when every thing had been promis-
ed us at Smolensko, nothing had been provided to
enable us to mai;itai|i ourselves there ; nothing had
been priepared to relieve and comfort an army whose
salvation depended on that place alone. Hence de-
spair seized upon us. We thought only how to save
our wretched existence. Honour and duty were
forgotten, or'^lfefhcr, we were no longer disposed to
submit to the commands of a rash sovereign, who
troubled net himself to provide bread for those who
jbad sacrificed their lives to gratifrhis ambition.

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276 KBASNOE.

We saw those who were once the gayest, and the
most intrepid, entirely lose that character. They
predicted only disasters and dangers.* One thought
occupied their minds — that* country which they were
never again to see. One object filled their view-
that death which every moment threatened them.
With a mournfbl presentiment, each inquired trem-
blingly, and with the most profound mystery, where
were the armies to which we looked for deliverance ?
* Where Is the dyke of Reggio ?' one secretly asked
hi? companion. — ^ He wished to have protected the
Dwina, but he was forced to aban^^on Polotsk, and to
fall back upon Lessel, was the whispered reply. —
' And where is the duke of Belluno ?' — \ He could
not leave Sienna.' — ' And where the Russian army -
of Wolhynia i" — ^ It hasrepulsfed prince Schwftrtzen^
berg; it- has made itself master of Minsk, and it is
advancing against us.' — ^ Ah ! if this newp be true,'
repeated the first to himself, ^ our situation is truly -
desperate ; and one great battle, on the borders of
the Nieper or the Beresina, will complete our ruin. J

Reflections, if possible, yet more depressing oc-
cupied and tormented us, when a confused murmur
spread the report that the whole of Fmnce was agi-
tated ; that the town of Nantes had been destroyed,
and that Paris, where, during nearlg^wgnty years,
the fate of Europe had been decidCT^^E^ also in a
state of commotion, which made us tremble for the
fate of our beloved countiy ! We were inibntied that

* See the tweoty-ninth bulletin.

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KRASNOE. 277

certain men, known for their love of democracy, had
conceived the project of spreading a false report of
the death of Napoleoji, and the entire destruction of
his army ; and that profiting by the grief and con-
sternation which this news would occasion it was
their intention to overthrow the existing authorities,
and to erect a government which would be subservi-
ent to their views. If this design had been conceived
by honest and patriotic men, who, emulous to render
the mselves illustrious by the deliverance of their coun-
try, sought only to dethrone the emperor, that they
might preserve the^ French people from the. disgrace
of hereafter owing their freedom to those whom they
called their enemies, certainly such a project would
have beei» truly heroic. But, instead of an enterprise
t3o noble, we were toldthat the conspirators wished to
deliver us from despotism, that they might plunge
us into the horrors of anarchy. Far from wishing
success to such a scheme, we rejoiced when we were
afterwards informed, that our country was not again
.delivered over to the fury of the different factions, for
the political perfidy of our oppressor had caused the
fate of the people to depend solely on his safety. By
' his mohstrous Machiavelism, France was at war with
the whole human race, that the preservation of France
inigh^nbe connected with that of his own person.
• As ji^ lay under some Wretched thatch, and in-
dul^^B many a melancholy reflection, w^ were siid-
. denly roufllKd by unexpected cries. ^Rise, rise ; they
pillage the magazines.' Springing immediately on

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278 kRASNOE*

our feet, and seizing a sack, a pannier, or a bottle, we
exclaimed to each other, as we rushed out, * I will
go to the flour magazine, you go to the magazine of
brandy ; let the servants run to the place where the
meat, the biscuit, the pease, are kept.^ In an instant
the room was empty. After a considerable interval
our friends returned, and informed us, that the sol-
diers dying with hunger, and no longer able to await
the dilatory distribution of the provisions, had, in
spite of the guard, forced the gates of the magazines,
and begun to pillage them. Some came back with
their clothes covered with flour, and even pierced
with the bayonet, bearing on their shoulders sacks of ^
flour which they had taken by force from the sol-
diers who were dividing it. Others entered, haras-
sed with fatigue, and deposited on the table a great
pannier of biscuit, or what was better, an enormous
leg of beef. An hour after, the domestics followed
them bringing rice, pease, and brandy. At the un-
expected view of such abundance, our hearts onc4
more expanded. One laughed with joy, as he knead-
ed his bread ; another sung as he cooked his meat ;
but most of them eagerly seizing the brandy, quickly
caused the wildest gayety to succeed to the most
distressing sadness.

Although the weather was be9aitifully cle^, the
air was so exceedingly piercing, that it froze us as
we passed the streets. At every step were Sfl^ the
dead bodies of the soldiers, stretched on the^ow,
who, harassed by fatigue, had perished of the cold a§
they were searching for a place of repose. All thesQ

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KRA9NOE. 270

^Sisastei^ and especiallj our stay at Smolensko, re-
snind me of the death of colonel Battaglia, comman*
dant of the guard of honour of Italy. I have long
reproached myself with not having interested the
feelings of my readers, by recounting the misfortunes
of that distinguished corps. The rapidity of my
narration has hitherto prevented me from occupying
myself with the calamities of individuals, while I
was oppressed and overpowered by the recollection
of those which were endured by the whole army. At
this epoch, that corps was completely annihilated ;
and ere I quit»the fatal walls of Smolensk©, I will
succinctly recount its history.

It was composed of young men selected from the
first families in Italy, and whose parents allowed
them a pension of twelve hundred francs, when they
entered the corps. It was an honour to be admitted
into the regiment, as its very nanie testified. It was
not rare to find, among these young men, the most
brilliant talents, united to the most afiluent fortune.
Many of them were the only sons of illustrious fami-
lies. To the titles which they derived from their an-
cestors^ they added awell-ciritivated understanding,
and every quality which promised ultimately to form
the most dbtinguished military characters. In this
school were educated the l^est informed and the most
tecellent officers of the Italian army. They acquir-
ed ^i^rienc^ in submitting to the rules of thei?
corp^W^ph, wl^e it gave them the rank of sub-
lieutenants, obligqd them, to perfojcm th^ service of
jpiivate soldiers.

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280 KRASNOE.

This corps conducted itself well on ereiy occa^
sion, and was remarkable for its fine appearance and
strict discipline, but it dij^fered more than any other,
hy the privations attendant on this memorable cam-
paign. The guards oi honour, unused to shoe their
horses, or to mend their garments or their boots,
were obliged to submit to these degradations, when
\he artificers and domestics attached \o their regi^^
ment Were no more. Having lost all their horses, and
wearing enormous and heavy boots, they were ujol-*
able long to st^port the fatigue of our continual
marches. Confounded with the stragglers, they re-*
mained in the rear, without food and without lodg-
ing. In this manner the descendants of the noblest
families, born to the happiest destines, peridiked fat
more miserably than the common soldiers ; for their
education and their habits ill-disposed them to sub-
mit to the menial offices by which' others gained a
scanty morsel, and prolonged a wretched life. Some
of them were seen wrapped in the tattered fragmeidi
of their cloaks ; others, mounted wi sorry cc^nias,*
suddenly fainted from weakness and want, and fell
to rise no more. Out of the threehundred and
fifty, of which they were originally composed, all,
except five, perished in the most deplorable manner.
They had, however, this consolation, that they pos-
sessed the esteem of the prince, who formed them at
first, and who now sighed over the calMniti^nhicb

• Cognia, in the Polish language, signifies a horse ; and as the hones of
Kussia are very small, th.ey distinguished ours by the name of Cognia.

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K!tA3NOC» ^1

^e fatal circuHlstanccs of the campaign would noi
perAfiit him to alleviate.

(November 14.) The emperor, who was at Smo-
len^o when we arrived there, received every day
disastrous news of his armiesf. That which most
affected him, was the defeat of general Baraguey
D'Hilliers, sent on the road of Kaluga, viith general
Augerau, to oppose count Orloff Denisoff, who*
threatened to cut off our retreat between Smolensko
and Krasnoc. At a loss how to repair so many dis-
graces. Napoleon, on that day, and for the first time,
held a grand council, at which all the generals of di-
vision and marshals of the empire assisted. As soo0
as the council was broken up, he burned part of his
equipage, and immediately departed in his carriage^
aQCompanied by his chasseurs^ and by the Polish
lancers of the guard. It was reported at the close
of the council, that we were to march to-morrow
with the fiist corps, and that the third was to remain
behind to blow up the fortifications of the town, and
to form our rear-guard. The same day, th6 viceroy
was long closeted with the chief of his staff, and we
awaited with anxiety the result of all these confer-
ences.

(November 16.) The order was given to con-
tinue our. march, but at a very late hour, fi-om the
delay occasioned by the dilatory distribution of the
whole j^ntents of the magazines. The Russian wo-
men, Wose sufferings only added to our misfortunes
were left at Smolensko. Dreadful situation ! since

36

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282f XdASNOEr

these unfortunate beings well knew that the remain^
of the City would be sacked, the houses delivered to-
the flames, and the churches undermined. We soon
however, heard that the Hetman Platoff, entering un-
expectedly, into the town, had prevented our rear-
guard from executing the inhuman order.

Marching from Smolensko, a spectacle the most
horrible was presented to our view. From that poixit
till we arrived at a wretched ruined hamlet,* at the
distance of about three leagues, the road was entirely
covered with cannon and am munition- waggons^
which they had scarce time to spike, or to blow up.
Horses in the agonies of death, were seen at eve-
ry step, and sometimes whole teams, sinking under
their labours, fell together. All the defiles which the
carriages could not pass, were filled with muskets,
helmets, and breast plates. Trunks broken open,
portmanteaus torn to pieces, and garments of every
kind were scattered over the valley. At every little
distance we met with trees, at the foot of which the
soldiers had attempted to light a fire, but the poor
wretches had perished ere they could accomplish
their * object. We saw them stretched by dozens
around the green branches- which they had vainly
endeavoured to kindle ; and so numeious were the
bodies, that they would have obstructed the road had
not the soldiets been often employed in throwing
them into the ditches and the ruts.

* On inspecting the map, thib appears to be 1/Oubna.

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SRASNOB. 283

TThese horrors, far from exciting our sensibility,
only hardened our hearts. Our cruelty, which could
no more be exercised on the enemy, was extended
*o our companions. The best friends no longer re-
cognized each other. Whoever discovered the least
sickness, if he had not good horses and faithful ser-
vants, was sure never to see his country again.
Eveiy one preferred to save the plunder of MoscotVy
father than the life of his comrade. On all sides we
heard the groans of the dying, and the lamentable
^cries of those whom we had abandoned. But every
one was deaf to their supplications, or if he ap-
proached those who were on the point of expiring,
it was to plunder, not to assist them ; it was to search
"whether they had any rei^ains of food, and not to
afford them relief.

Arrived at Loubna, we were able to save only
two miserable barns from destruction — one for the
viceroy, and the other for his stafi'. We had scarcely
established ourselves there, when we heard a loud
cannonade in our front. As the nosie appeared to
come from our right, some thought that it was an
engagement with the ninth corps, which not having
been able to relieve Witepsk, was obUged to retreat
before a superiour force; but they who were best
acquainted with the country^ believed that it was the
emperor and his guard, who had been attacked by
prince Kutusoff, before his arrival at Krasncc. That
prince had marched from Elnva, and passed our ar-
my while we halted at Smolensko*

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284 |i:kasno£.

We can scarcelj imagine a picture more deplo-
rable than the bivouac ot the stsS. Twenty-one of-
ficerS) confounded with as many senrants, had crept
together round a little fire, under an execrable cart*
house scarcely covered. Behind them were the
horses ranged in a circle, that they might be some
defence against the violence of the wind, which blew
with fury. The smoke vrfts so thick that we could
scarcely see tlxe figures of those who were close to
the fire, and who were employed in blowing the coals
on wliich they cooked their food. The rest wrapped
in their pelisses or their cloaks, lay one upon another,
as some protection from the cold ; nor did they stir,
except to abuse those who trod upon them as they
passed, or to rail at the horses, which kicked when-
ever a spark fell on their coats.

(November 16.) We recommenced our march
before the dawn of day, and the road was again cov-
ered with the wrecks of our baggage ancj artillery.
The horses could no longer draw, and we were obli-
ged to abandon our cannon at the foot of the slightest
hill. The^only duty which then remained to the artil-
lery-men, was to scatter the powder of the cartriges,
and to spike the pieces, lest the enemy should turn
them against us. We were reduced to this extre-
mity when at the distance of two hours' march firom
Krasnoe, the generals Poitevin and Guyon, who
were in the van-guard, saw a Russian officer coming
towards them, followed by a trumpeter, who an-
nounced that a herald was advancing. Surprised at
an appearance so unexpected, general Guyon halted

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KRASNOE. 286

'and permitting the officer to approach, demanded
whence he came, and what was the object of hisi mis-
sion. ' I come,' said he, * from general Milora-
dowitch, to tell you, that yesterday we beat Napo-
leon, with the imperial guard ; and that to-day the
viceroy is surrounded by an army of twenty thousand
men. He cannot escape us, and if he will surrender,
we offer him honourable terms-' To this, general
Guyoii replied with indignation. * Return quickly
whence you came,and announce to those who sent you,
that if you have twenty thousand men, we have here
four times twenty thousand.' These words, uttered
with a confident air, so confounded the herald, that
he immediately returned to the camp of the enemy..
While this was going on, the viceroy arrived, and
listened to the intelligence with mingle4» surprise and
indignation. Although his corps was so dreadfully
weakened, and he probably had some knowledge of
the serious affair which had taken place on the day
beibre,between the advanced guard of Kutusoff and
the imperial guard, yet, reflecting on the boasting
manner in which this had been related, he conceived
the hope, that, by forcin'g a passage^ he might in a
short time rejoin the emperor. He was likewise fully
determined to fall honourably in the field, rather than
accept of conditions incompatible with his fame. He
immediately ordered the fourteenth division to firont
the enemy, carrying with them the only two pieces of
cannon which remained ; then calling general Guille-
minot, he conferred with him for a long time, and the
result of their conference was, that it was absolutely

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28t> KRASNOE.

.necessaiy to force our way through the enemy* Itt
the mean time our troops had marched on, and the
Russians, permitting them to advance to the very foot
of the hill on which they were encamped, suddenly
unmasked their batteries, and directed them on their
squares. Their cavalry soon after descending from
their position, completed the destruction of oiir
troops, and captured their cannon, of which they
had made but few discharges, through want of am-
munition.

General Ornano advanced across the fire of the
enemy, with the remains of the thirteenth division,
to succour the troops of the fourteenth, which were
so cruelly beaten, when a cannon-ball passed so near
him that he fell from his horse. The soldiers thought
that he was dead, and ran forward to plunder him,
when they perceived that he was only stunned by the
violence of the fall. The prince then sent his aid-
de-camp, colonel Delfanti, to endeavour to reani*
mate the troops- That brave officer, rushing forward
amidst a shower of balls and grape-shot, encouraged
his soldiers by his exhortations and by his example ;
when receiving two dangerous wounds, he was com-
pelled to retire from the ranks. A surgeon having
applied a slight dressing, he returned with difficulty
from the field of battle. On his way he met Mon-
sieur de Villeblanche, who in the capacity of audi-
tor of the council of state, had quitted the town of
Smolensko, of which he was the intendant, with gen-
eral Charpentier, who was the governor. Unfortu-
nately he had obtained leave of the viceroy to ac-

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KRASNOE. 281

company him. This generous young man, perceiv-t
ing^ colonel Dclfanti wounded and leaning on anr
officer, listened to the dictates of his sensibility and
offered him his arm also. As ail three were slowly
retiring from the field, a cannon ball struck the colo^
nel between the shoulders, and carried offthe head of
the brave Villeblanche. Thus perished two young
men, who, in different professions, had proved their
talents and their courage. The first fell a victim to
his bravery — the other to his humanity. The prince
deeply affected by this unhappy catastrophe, showed
the regard which he felt for the memory of colonel
Delfanti, by an act of benevolence towards the au-
thor of his being ; and he would have afforded the
same consolation to thejfather of Villeblanche, if the
death of his only son had not shortly brought him to
his grave.

Many officers of distinguished merit perished on
that bloody day. We particularly regretted major
d'Oreille, whose intrepidity was so well known, and
the captain of engineers, Morlincourt, whose mo-
desty was equal to his talents. The cannonade yet
continued, and carried destruction through all our
ranks. The field of battle was covered with the dead
and the dying. Great numbers of the wounded,
abandoning their regiments, took refuge in the rear,
and increased the crowd of. stragglers. The firing
which had proved fatal to our first mnks extended
its ravages to the rear of our army, where the dis-
mounted officers were stationed. The captains Bor-
doni and Mastini perished there. They constituted

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288 KRASNOJ^.

a part of ttie small number of the Itali^ guards who
yet survived.

The viceroy, seeing the obstinacy with which the
enemy disputed our passage, feigned, by a skilful
movement, to prolong the engagement on our left, by
raQying and re-uniting all that remained of the four-
teenth division ; and, while the enemy concentrated
the greater part of his forces on this point, to sur-
round and cut oflF these troops, the prince took ad-
vantage of the close of the day to file off to the right
with the royal guard which had not been engaged..
Colonel Kliski gave a remarkable proof of presence
of mind in that march. " He was familiar with the
Russian language, and marched in the van-gtiard of
the cplumn. Suddenly he was stopped by a scout
of the enemy, who cried in Russian, * Who goes
there ? That intrepid officer, not at all embarrassed
by a rencontre so unfortunate, advanced towards the •
Centinel, and said to him in his own language, ^ Hold
your tongue, scoundrel, don't you see that we belong
to the corps of Ouwarow, and that we are going on
a secret expedition !' At these words the soldier
was silent, and suffered us to pass under the protec-
tion of the night, without giving the alarm.

The whole army thus escaped the vigilance of
the enemy, with the exception of the fifteenth divi-
sion, which, forming thq rear-guard, was placed un-
der the command of general Triaire, with orders to
'march as soon as the prince had effected his mano&u-
vre. While this division rested on it&. arms, it be-
held, with gi-ief, the destruction which spread among

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CBASNOS. 389

the stragglers who were left in the rear. They like*
wise waited for night to continue their route ; but,
when harassed by fatigue, they found themselves
warm and comfortable round a blazing Gre, many of
them would not proceed until the return of day.
Thus they perished the victims of their own apathy.
The fifteenth division soon filed off in the utmost si-
lence, regarding those whom they left behind as the
destined prey of the cossacks.

It was necessary to pass the enemy during a night|
which, instead of protecting us by its obscurity, sud-
denly presented a beautiful unclouded moon. The
snow, covering the surface of the ground, rendered
our march more conspicuous, and it- was not without
terror that we saw ourselves flanked by clouds of cos-
sacks, who continually approached close to us, as if
to reconnoitre, and then returned to the squadrons
from which they had been detached. We often
thought that they were about to charge us, but gen-
eral Triaire, halting his column, presented a front
so imposing, that they did not dare to attack us. At
length in spite of the ravines, and the mountains of
snow that obstructed our passage, we reached the
great road and half an hour afterwards, effected a
junction with the young guard, ^ which encamped
near a river half a league from Krasnoe. There we
found the emperor, and there consequently, our .
fears were dissipated.

Recounting to the soldiers of the guard, the com-
bat which we had sustained, they informed us, that

37

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290 KRASNOE.

Ibey likewise had been obliged to cut tfaeit waf^
through the enemy* Napoleon was exposed to the
most iminent danger in this engagement, and was
indebted for his safety to the bravery of his troops*
We. were told that the band of the guard, rejoining
him, after having been separated from him in the
heat of the battle, immediately struck up the air,
* Where can we be happier than in the bosom of
our family.' But as this might have a double mean-
ing in the midst of frozen deserts, he understood it
in the worst sense, and said to the musicians, in a
rough tone of voice, * You had much better play,
" Let us awake and save the empire.'^ '

The staff of the emperor, his guard, his cavaliy,
and the fourth corps, forming a junction in this little
town, so completely filled it, that it Was scarcely pos-
sible to move* The streets were thronged with sol-
diers lying round their fires, which they could only
keep up by demolishing the houses that were built
with wood, and burning tiie doors and window-frames
of the others.

The viceroy was well received at the quarters of
the emperor, in spite of the ill-humour which he fell
in consequence of the late disgraces, to which he had
been unaccustomed. He highly approved of the stra-
tagem that had been employed to deceive the enemy.
The prince remaining all night in conference, his
suite encamped in the streets, until Napoleon and the
viceroy, placing themselves at the head of the guard
marched on the position which the Russians occupi-
ed, to succour the first and third corps, who were in

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KRASNOE, 291

the same perilous situation, in which we had been
placed on the preceding evening. ^

A new engagement commenced. The action was
obstinate and bloody, and it was only by the great-
est sacrifices^ that we were enabled to save the few
tsoldiers who were on their march to join U9« The third
corps was entirely dispersed, and there remained witli
th^ dul^e of Elchingen, only two or three thousand
men, who had escaped from the enemy by passing
the Nieper. Twenty-five pieces of cannon, and ma-r
ny thousand of prisoners, were the fruits which the
{lussians reaped from four successive battles, in
which we had nothing to oppose against a complete
^rmy, but some miserable soldiers, harassed by
continual marches, and who during more than a
month, bad been without food, without ammunition
»nd without artillery.

To reward the bravery of the Russian imperial
guard, who had distinguished themselves in these
different engagements, prince KutusofF permitted
them to cariy all the trophies of victory from the
field of battle to their camp. Among these, was the
baton of the marshal prince of EckrauhL* But that
baton used by our marshals on days of ceremony
alone, added no glory to the enemy, for they found
it, doubtless, in a baggage- waggon that had been
abandoned.

The Russians have divided our retreat into three
principal epochs,'which, besides the constant increase

♦ See the official report of our retreat, published by tlie Russians at Wilna
December 22, 1812.

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292 KRASNOE.

of our misfortunes, have each a peculiar character.
The first ended at the battle of Krasnce, the second
at the passage of the Beresina, and the third at Nie*-
men.

At the conclusion of the first period, to which w6
are now arrived, they had already taken forty thou-
sand men, twenty-seven generals, five hundred pieces
of cannon, thirty -one standards, and beside our own
immense baggage, all the plunder of Moscow, that
we had not destroyed. If, to all these disasters, we
yet add forty thousand more, dead of fatigue or fa-
mine, or killed in the different battles, we shall find
that our army was reduced to thiity thousand, in-
cluding the imperial guard, of whom not more than
eight thousand combatants survived. The twenty-
five pieces of artillery, which the gusirds had pre-
served, could not be reckoned, since it was uncertain
whether they would not be obliged to abandon them
on the morrow. Our cavalry was almost extinct.
This is the exact statement of the losses which
we had sustained, at the end of one month's march.
From this we formed mournful presages of what we
were yet to endure, since we were scarcely half way
to the Niemen, and had three rivers to cross, and
two mountains to climb.

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BOOK IX.

THE BERESINA.

The dreadful disasters which we had endured
in our retreat from Moscow to Krasnoc, led us to
conclude that our misfortunes must have reached
their utmost height, and that happier events would,
succeed. In fact the noble position of Orcha be-
ing guarded by general Jomini we were assured
that we should pass the Nieper without opposition,
and effect a junction with the corps of general Dom-
bro^vski, and the dukes of Reggio and BoUuno ;
moreover we were approaiching the line of our mag-
azines, and we should soon enter on an inhabited
dlid friendly country. In 6ne, prince Kutusoff, wish-
ing to concert his plan of attack with the army of
Moldavia which was ready to join him, ceased to
harass us, and reserved for the Beresina, the great
results which the battle of Krasnoe had promised
him.

All these advantages, on which it was said that
we might build the surest hopes, imposed on the
soldiers only for a short time. They who were best
acquainted with the state of affairs, soon dissipated

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294 BERESINA.

our illusions, by circulating the report that admiral
Tsehikakoff, coming from the Danube, had re-
pulsed near Varsova, the troops that opposed his
passage ; that the Austrians had suffered him to take
Minsk ; and that by seizing the bridge of BorisoF,
on the Beresina, the admiral intended to form a
junction with generals Wittgenstein and Stengel,
These generals, in fact, being no longer held in
check by the twelfth and sixteenth corps, since the
battle of Polotsk, had gone, the one on Vileika, to
attack the Bavarians, and the other towards Tscbacb*
niki, to place itself in communication with the army
of Moldavia. On this junction depended the fate
of the French army, and it was to prevent the roost
dreadful, and the most memorable of all defeats,
that Napoleon advanced by forced marches on th?
Beresina.

(November 17th,) As soon as the prince of
Eckmubl had joined us, and the duke of Elchingen
had thrown himself on the other side of the Nieper^
we left Krasnoe, about eleven o'clock in the morn-
ing, and marched towards Liadoui- During the
short repose that we had taken at Krasno«, the cos-
sacks had passed by that city, and now, ranged in
columns, followed us, along the road. They did not
venture to attack the armed soldiers ; but perceiving
that the small remains of our baggage was stopped,
and in great disorder from the difficulty which the
horses found in clearing the valley which separated
the town from a little hill, they rushed upon them,
and plundered them without resistance. We there

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lo^ tht baggdge^iv£Lggon of the staff, whkh Mntain-
ed the registers of correspondence, and nil the
platts, charts, and memoirs, relative to the campaign*
Night began to overtake uB as we entered Liadotrt.
Above a little river j which we were to cross previ-
ous to our arrival at Liadoiri, was a lofty hill, the
side of which was so slippery as to render the de-
scent not a little dangerous. iThe town offered a
new aspect to us, for there we fitet saw inhabitants.
Althongh they were Jews, we forgot the iilthiness of
that venal people, and by force of entreaty, or rather
by force of money, we made them find considerable
resources, in a town that at first appeared to be ruin-
dd. Thus that cupidity, the object of our supreme
Contempt in the Jews, was advantageous to us, be-
cause it made them brave every danger to procure us
what we demamled.

Liadou^ forming a part of Lithuania, we thought
that it would have been respected, because it belohg-
ed to ancient Poland. We departed before day-
break on the following morning (November 19,)
when to out great astonishment, we were, as usual,
lighted by the fire of the houses. That conflagration
produced one of the most honible scenes of our
whole retreat, and my pen would refuse to recount-
it, if the recital of our misfortunes had not for its
object, and its moral, to render odious that fatal amr
bition, which forced the most civilized people to
become barbarians in war.

Amongst the buildings which were burning, were
three vast barns, filled with soldiers, most of whom

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296 BEBESINA.

were wounded. They could not escape from the
two which were behind, without passing through the
one that was in front, and that was enveloped in
flames. The most active saved themselves by leap-
ing out of the windows; but the sick and the wounded
unable to move, saw, with horrible consternation
the flames rapidly advancing to devour them. Moved
by the cries, with which these unhappy beings rent
the air, some, whose hearts were less hardened than
others, attempted to save them. Vain effort ! Before
we could reach them, they were more than half
buried under the burning rafters. Eagerly did they
cry to their comrades through the whirlwinds of fire,
to shorten their sufferings by immediately depriving
them of life. It became the painful duty of humanity
to comply with their entreaties. ^ Fire upon us, fire
Upon us, at the head, at the head ; do not hesitate,'
were the cries which proceeded from every part of
the building, nor did they cease, till every wretched^
victim was consumed.

We quickly entered into Doubrouna. That
town was in a better state of preservation than any
through which we had passed in our journey fi*om
Moscow. It had a Poloaese sub-prefect, and a com-
mandant of the town. The inhabitants were princi-
pally Jews, who procured us a little flour, brandy,
and metheglin. They also exchanged the paper
money of the soldiei^ for cash. In fine, astonished
at the confidence of these Israelites, and the honesty
of our soldiers, who paid for every thing which they
took, we thought plenty was about to revisit us, and

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B£KSStNA. ^1

that oiir niisfoAines tvere near their close. Yet we
Tvere struggling under accumulated evite. * Bread !
bread !' was the incessant cry of the feeble remains
of our once powerful army. The followers of the
camp of every kind greatly suflFered : particularly the
commissaries and dtore-keepers, who had been
little more accustomed to privations. But none were
more to be pitied than the physicians, and especially
the surgeons, who, without hope of advancement,
exposed themselves like the Common soldierd, by-
dressing them on the field of battle. While we were
at Doubrowna, I saw a young surgeon near a house
which the soldiers surrounded in crowds, because it
was reported that provisions were to be procured
there. He was plunged in the profoiiridest grief, and
with an eager and anxious countenance, was violent-
ly endeavouring to force his way into the place. But
when he was again and again driven back by the
crowd, he exhibited the wildest despair. I ventured
to inquire the cause. ' Ah, captain V said he, ^ I
ant a lost man. For two days I have had no food,-
and ascertaining that they sold bread in this house, I
gstve the sentinel six franks to suffer me to enter.
But while the bread was yet ixk the oVen, the Jew
would not promise to supply me unless I gave him
a louis in advance, I consented, but when I came
back the sentinel was changed, and I was cruelly re-
pulsed from the door. Ah, sir !' continued he, ' I
aiA indeed unfortunate ; I have lost all the money
that I had in the world, and unable to procure a

38

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298 BEBESINA^

morsel of bread, though I hare not (asted any (or
more than a months'

At that moment, Napoleon passed by in a close
chariot filled with furs. He wore, likewise, a pe-
lisse and bonnet of sable skin, which prevented him
from feeling the severity of the weather. On the
day when we arrived at Doubrowna, he had marched
a great part of the way on foot, and during that march
he could easily conceive himself to what a miserable
fctate his army was reduced, and how much he had
been deceived by the false reports which some gene-
rals had made, who, knowing how dangerous it was
to confess the truth, did not dare to acquaint him
with the real state of things lest they should incur his
displeasiue. As he had often experienced the won-
derful etfects of his discourse on the soldiers, he once
more mingled among them, and addressing himself
angrily to the officers, and familiarly and jestingly to
the soldiers, he endeavoured to inspire the one with
fear, and the others with courage. But the time of
enthusiasm was passed, when one word from him
would have produced miracles. His tyranny had
oppressed^ and debased us, and stilfling within us
every generoiiafeelinig, had deprived liim of the only
means of re-animating our drooping spirits. Napo-
leon was most affected at seeing his old guard equally
dispirited and diespairing. Wounded to the very
soul he assembled a party of them before he quitted
Doubrowna, and, placing himself in their centre, re-
commended the officers to maintain strict discipline,
and reminded them that they had always been the

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B£R£SINA« 299

pride of his army, and that to their bravery he had
often been indebted for the most splendid victories/
But sentiments like these were out of season, and the
man, who destitute of virtue aspired to the character
jof a hero, now too plainly found, that the grandest
projects were followed by no glory, when they had
not some laudable object, and when their executioi^
was beyond the scope of human ability.

(November 19th.) Half an hour after we quitted
Doubrowna, we passed a very wide and deep ravine
through which flowed a consideraWe river. The op-
posite bank completely commanded that at which
we had arrived. On seeing this important positioii
yve thanked heaven that the jRussians had not seized
upon it to oppose pur passage, and this gave us rea-
son to hope that the village of Orcha was not occq^
pied by them. In fact, some troops lately arrived
from France maintained themselves there and we
effected a junction with them at two o'clock in the'af-
Jternoorn, without being harassed by the cossacks. This
was a new instance of g(M)d fortune^ for in the disorder
in which we then were, it would have been impossible
for us to h^-ve forced either of these strong positions,
' These troops had constnicted two bridges over the
Nieper, and as every one rushed on to pass first,
the crowd was immense, yet fortunately no accident
occurred. Napoleon anived ^.t Orcha soon after us,
and in an instant every house was occupied. The
Jews, as usual, immediately procured us trifling re-
freshments, but the number of purchasers was so
great that all was soon consumed

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SIQQ BEEBBINA^.

The more I examined itl»e position of Orcha, the
greater was my astonislngient, that the Russians had
not taken possession of it The town is built on the
ri^t banic of the Nieper, which rises considerably
higher than the left Many projections appear from
the bank in the form of natural bastions, and perfectly
command the passage. The river flows immediately
beneath, and is about one thousand two hundred
feet wide and of immense depth. The most for-
midable armx could not pass it without being eJL^
posed to entire ruip. While we halted upqn these
heights, we hesgrd mai^ discharges of musketry^
and shortly afterward^, we saw those who had be^n
left on the other aide retiring with the greatest pre-
cipitation, and crying as they approached; us, ^ The
cossacks, the cossacks.' In fact they soon actually
appeared, but in numbers 90 small, that we should
have been indignant, if those who fled before them
had not been wretphed stragglers, without arms and
mostly wounded.

(November 20th.) On the following day we
were unmolested, except that we occasionly heard
3ome discharges of musketty, directed against the
Cossacks ; but accustomed to see them advance upon
us, and immediately betake themselves to flight when
faced by the regular troops, their presence gave us no*
uneasiness. We were thus permitted to taste undis-
turbed the sweets of one day's repose, and some pro-
visions were distributed amongst us, which general
Jomini, governour of Orcha, had preserved for the
passage of the army. 'JThey proved the more accept-

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BERESINA. 501

able to us, as we had received no rations of bread
since our retreat from Smolensko, the magazines of
Krasno« having been pillaged by the cossacks before
we arrived.*

If the day was tranquil, the night was much dis- ^
turbed. The duke of Elchingen, who since the
disastrous day of Krasnoc. had been obliged to abanr
don the road that we pursued, and seek a safer re^
treat on the other side of the Nieper, had been enr
gaged with the enemy during three whole days.
That march, in which he had recourse to every ma-
jioeuvre that the most extraordinary courage and
talents could effect, completed his brilliant reputa-
tion. His valour was seconded by the generous
jnovementt>f the prince viceroy, who proceeded by
forced marches to succour him, and whose assistance
eflFected his deliverance.

(November 21st.) We marched from Orcha at
the moment that they began to set it on fire. As we
<;limbed the mountain to recover the grand road,
we heard a considerable firing of musketry. It pro*
ceeded from the soldiers of the first corps, who had
been left in the town to form the rear guard, and who
were already engaged with the cossacks.

During our stay at Orcha, Napoleon, foreseeing
that he sh6uld soon be placed in a most critical situa*

* I ought to obsore, that onl^ the soldiers who were present at the roll
call, received any distribution, and they did not form a fifth part of the
army ; and there were only three distributions in the space of two month?^
7)j»mely, at Smolensko, at Orcha, and at Kowna

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302 BEEESINA.

tion, made eveiy effort to rally his troops. He caused
it to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet, and by
three colonels, that every soldier who did not imme-
diately rejoin his regiment should be punished with
death ; and that every officer or genera] who aban-
doned his post should be dismissed. But when we
regained the great road, we perceived what little ef-
fect this measure had produced. All was in the most
frightful confusion, and in contempt of this severe
proclamtion, the soldiers, naked and without arms,
continued to march in the same disorder.

We encamped at a sorry village on our right,
where two or three habitations remained, at the dis-
tance of an hour's march from Kokanovo. The vil-
lage of Kokanovo, which we passed on the following
day, was entirely ruined ; the post-house, which had
been inhabited by the staff, alone remained. We
continued our march along a road which the thaw
had rendered horribly dirty, when we received or-
ders not to push forward to Tolotschin, where Na-
poleon had fixed his quarters, but to halt at a great
cfto/Muhalf a league distant.

The road of Orcha, as far as Tolotschin, is un-
doubtedly^one of the best in Europe. It forms a per-
fectly straight line, and is bordered on each side by a
double row of birch trees, the branches of which, la-
den with snow and ice, hung down to the ground like
the weeping willow. But these majestic avenues ex-
cited in us no admiration. They mtnessed only our
tears and our despair. On every side we heard onlj
groans and lamentations. Some feeling that thev

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BERESIIil. 309

eould proceed no further, laid themselves on the
ground, and with tears in their eyes, gave us their
papers and their money to be conveyed to their fam-
ilies. ^ Ah ! If more fortunate than we/ they ex-
claimed, ^ you are permitted to re-visit our dear
country, give our parents this last pledge of our
love. Tell them that the hope of seeing them again
alone sustained us till this day ; and that at length,
compelled to renounce this pleasing expectation, we
died thinking of them, and blessing them* Adieu,
God bless you ! When on your return to our belov-
ed France, you rejoice in your good fortune, think^
sometimes of our unhappy fate.' A little further on
we met others, who, holding in their arms their fam-
ished children or their wives, implored one morsel
of bread to preserve their lives.

In the meantime. Napoleon was informed that the
army of Wolhynia, joined to that of Moldavia, had
mar<:hed on Minsk (Nov. 16th,) and that it had
seiz ed on the bridge of Borisov, to cut us oflf from the
passage of the Beresina. He also knew, that the ar-
my of Wittgenstein, reinforced by the division of
Stengel, sharply pressed the twelfth and sixteenth
corps, that it might be enabled to march on the Bo-
risov, and form a junction with admiral Tschikakoff
and prince Kutusoff. To oppose the execution of
a plan which would complete our ruin. Napoleon
sent general Dombrowski against the army of Wol-
hynia, hoping also that he might anticipate it, in
seizing the bridge of Borisov. This general did es-
tablish himself there^ but he was forced to evacuate

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304 bcresina-.

bis position (Nov. 23di) The ebemy having thea
passed the Beresina, marched upon Bohr, and came
to meet us. The twelfth corps commanded by the
duke of Re^io, which was at TschcrAa, received
orders to proceed immediately to the succour of ge-
neral Dombrowski, and to secure for the army the
passage of the Beresina. On the following day (Nov.
24th) he met the division of tiie Russian general
Lambert) four leagues on this side of Borisov« He
attacked and beat it At the same time general
Berkheim made a brilliant charge with the fourth re-
giment of chasseurs, and forced the enemy to retreat
to the other bank of the river, after having lost two
thousand men, six cannon and a quantity of baggage.
The Russians having destroyed in their flight thfe
great bridge of Borisov, defended all the right bank
of the Beresina, and occupied, with four divisions,
the principal points where we could possibly attempt
to pass it. During the 25th, Napoleon manoeuvred
to deceive the vigilance of the enemy, and, by strata-
gem, obtained possession of the village of Studzianca,
placed on an eminence that commanded the river
which we wished to pass. There, in the presence
of the Russians, and notwithstanding their utmost
opposition, he constructed two bridges, of which the
duke of Reggio profited to cross the Beresina ^ and
attacking the troops which opposed his passage, he
put them to flight, and pursued them, without inter-
mission, to the head of the bridge of Borisov. Ge-

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BCRESINA. 305

neral Liegrand, an officer of distinguished merit^ was
ivounded in this affair.

The duke of BeHuno, who for some days had
kept the corps of Wittgenstien in check, having re-
ceived orders to follow the movements of the duke
of Reggio, was pursued in his retreat by the Russian
army of the Dwina, which had then formed a junc-
*tion with prince Kutusoff, near Lochnitza. During
all these operations, which took place between the
23d and 27th of November, we passed four dreadful
days, traversing many villages, among which we
could only learn the names of Bohr and Kraupki,
where fatigue compelled us to halt. The days w^ere
so short, that although we made but little progress,
v^e were obliged to march during part of the night.
It was from this cause that so many unhappy wretch-
es wandered from their regiments, and were lost
Arriving very late at the encampments, where all the
corps were confounded together, they could not dis-
tinguish or learn the situation of the regiment to
which they belonged. After having marched the
whole day, they were often compelled to wander
about all the night to find their officers, and rarely
were they sufficiently fortunate to accomplish their
object ; they then laid themselves down to sleep, ig-
norant of the hour of march, and on awaking, found
themselves in the power of the enemy.

As we passed the Borisov, we saw the div ision of
Parthonneaux forming the rear-guard of the ninth
corps. We then quitted the great road that led to
the bridge occupied by the Russians, and turned to

39

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d06 BEKESINA.

the right to proceed to Studzianca, where we fbond
Napoleon. The other troops of the ninth corps,
commanded bj the duke of Belluno, arrived likewise
by the same road.

The twelfth and ninth corps and the Poles, com-
manded by general Dombrowski, not having been at
Moscow, had so much baggage, that from Borisov to
Studzianca the road was covered with carriages and
wagscons. The reinforcements which these troops
brought us were very acceptable, yet we almo^
doubted whether the junction of so many men. in the
centre of a vast desert, might not increase our mis-
fortunes. Always marching in the midstof a confus-
ed mass of stragglers, with the divisions of the ninth
corps, we were two hours afterwards arrested in oiir
progress by a great crowd, and unable to penetrate,
wfe were compelled to march round it. In the midst
of this multitude were some paltry barns, on the sum-
mit of a little hill- Seeing some chasseurs of the im-
perial guard encamped around it, we judged that
Napoleon was there, and that we were approaching
the borders of the Beresina. In fact, it was the very
spot where Charies Xll. crossed that river, on his
march to Moscow.*

What a frightful picture did this multitude o(
men present, overwhelmed with misfortunes of eveiy
kind, and hemmed in by a morass ; that veiy multi-
tude which, two months before, had exultingly spread
itself over half the surface of a vast empire ! Our sol-

• June 25th, 17^8.

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BERESINA. 907

diais, pale, emaciated, djing with hunger and cold,
have nothiog to defend them from the inclemency of
the season, but tattered pelisses^ and sheep-skins half
burnt^ and uttering the most mournful lamentations,
crowded the banks of this unfortunate river. Ger-
mans, Polaiiders, ItaUans, Spaniards, Croats, Portu-
^lese, aod French, were all mingled tuptherydisput-^
mg among themselves, and quarre^pg with each
other, in their diflferent languages : — finally, the offi-
'Ceis, and even the generals, wrapped in pelisses cov*
ered with dirt and filth, confounded with the sol-
diers, and abusing those who pressed upon them, or
braved their authority, formed a scene of strange
confusk>n, of which no painter could trace the faint-
est resemblance.

They, whom fatigue, or ignorance of the impend-
ing danger, rendered less eager to cross the river,
were endeavouring to kindle a fire, and repose their
wearied limbs. We had, too frequently, occasion to
observe, in these encampments, to what a degree of
brutality, excess of misery would debase human na-
ture. In one place we saw several of the soldiers
fighting for a morsel of bread. If a stranger, pierced
with the cold, endeavoured to approach a fire, those
to whom it belonged inhugianly drove him away; or,
if tormented with raging thirst, any one asked for a
single drop of water from another who carried a full
supply, the refusal was accompanied by the vilest
abuse. We often heard those who had once been
friends, and whose education had been hberal, bit-
terly disputing with each other for a lilttle straw, or a

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d06 BERESINA.

piece of horse flesh, which they were attempting to
div ide. This campaign was therefore the more terri-
ble, as it brutalized the character, and stained us wkh
vices to which we had before been strangers. Even
t^ioee who once were honest, humane, and generous,
became selfish, avaricious, dishonest, and cruel.

Napoleon feMung, with the assistance of his guard,
forced hb w^Rhrough this immense crowd, crossed
the river (November 27) about three o'clock in the
afternoon. The viceroy, who had passed the whole
day with him, announced to his staff, that what re*
mained of the fourth corps should pass the bridge at
eight o'clock at nigtaL ^Althoughnota moment should
have been lost in escaping from a place so dangerous,
many could not prevail upon themselves to leave the
fires round which they were sitting. ^ It is much
better,' said they, ^ to pass the night on this side of
the river ihan on the other, where there is nothing but
marshes ; besides, the bridge is as much encumbered
as ever, and by waiting till to-morrow, the crowd will
have lessened, and the passage will be easy.' This
unfortunate advice prevailed on too many, and at the
hour appointed, only thif household of the prince,
and a few of the officers of the staff crossed the river.

It was, indeed, necessaiy to know all the danger
that would have attended our stay on the left sid^ of
the river, to induce us to pass to the other. The
viceroy and his suite, arriving on the right bank, en-
(^ipcdjAn a marshy piece of ground, and endeavour-
ed to finffli out the places which were most frozen, to
pass the night on them and escape the bogs. The

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« BERESINA. 309

daikness yfos hoirible, and the wind tremendous,
btowing a thick shower of ice and snow full in our
faces. Many of the officers, pierced with the cold,
did not cease running, and walking, and striking
their feet, during the whole night, to preserve them-
selves fixim being completely frozen. Incomplete
our misfortunes, wood was so scar^^hat we could
"with difficulty supply 'one little fircTw the viceroy ;
and to obtain s6me firebrands, we were obliged to
appeal to the Bavarian soldiers, the daughter of
whose king had been united in marriage to prince
Eugene. -

(November 28th.) Napol^offbeing gone towards
Zembin, left behind him thi^^^mense crowd,
which, standing on the other side of the Beresina,
presented a lively, but frightful picture of the un-
happy ghosts who are said to wander on the banks
of the Styx, and press tumultuously towards the
fatal barge. The snow fell with violence ; the hills
and forest presented only some white indistinct
masses, scarcely visible through the fog. We
could only see distinctly the fatal river, which half
frozen, forced its way through the ice that impeded
its progress.

Although there were two bridges, one for the
carriages, and the other for the foot-soldiers, yet the
crowd was so great, and the approaches so danger-
ous, that near the Beresina, the passage wa^jgi^-
pletely choked up, and it was absolutely imossiole
to move. About eight o'clock in the morning, the
bridge for the carriages and the cavalry broke down ;

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310 BEBESlIfA.

the bagg&ge and artillery then advance tomo^&a
other bridge, and attempted to force a passage.
Now began a frightful contention between the fioot-
soldieia and the horEfemen. Many perished by the
hands of their comrades, but a great number were
suffocatediattheheadofthe brigade ; and the dead
bodies of meiiMpd horses, so choked every avenqey
that it was necwary to cHmb over mcmntains of cai^
casses to arrive at the river. Some who were buried
fai these hoirible heaps, still breathed, and struggling
with the agonies of death, caught hold of those who
mounted ^ver them ; but these kicked them with vio-
lence, to disengage* themselves, and, without re*
morse, trod theqf|inder foot. During this conteur
tion, ate multitude which followed, like a furious
wave, swept away while it increased the numb^ <^
victims.

The. division of Parthonneaux, which formed the
rear*guard, having received orders to return left a
brigade, to bum tiie bridge. That brigade, setting
out two hours afterwards to rejoin the first, found it
no more. Doubtless, it had hastened its retreat, for
it has now been fully proved, the general Parthon*
ncaux, who had been unjustly accused of abandoning
his troops, received three or four orders io the course
of the day, which rendered him uncertain how
to act, and placed him in a very critical situation.
Be this as* it may, the second brigade lost its way,
and wandered more than three leagues in a wrong
direction. In the middle of a dismal night, and
pierced with cold, it mistodc the fires of the

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b&resina; . 311

enemj (at ours, and lan to join us ; when, seeing it-
bbU surrounded, and without the least hcqpe of es-
cape, it was compelled to surrender*

Borisov being evacuated, the three Russian ar-
mies effected th^r junction, and the same daj
{November 28th,) about eight o'clodc in the morn-
ing, the duke of Reggio was attacked on the right
i>ank, and half an hour afterwards the duke of Bel-
iuno was engaged on the left Ereiy soldier, who
had before been wandering in confusion, fell into the
rank& The battle was obstinately fought, and the
duke of Reggio could only obtain the victory at the
price of bis own blood. He w«s wounded at the be-
ginning of the action, and compelled to quit the field
The command then devolved on the duke of Elchin-
gen.

In the mean time the enemy, notwithstanding the
valour of our soldiers, and the exertions of tl^eir
commanders, briskly pressed the ninth corps, which
formed the rear-guard. .We already heard the roar
of the cannon, and the sound dismayed every heart.
Insensibly it approached, and we soon saw the fire of
the enemy's artillery on the summit of the neighbor-
ing hills, and we no longer doubted that the engage-
ment would soon extend to that spot which was cov-
ered with thousands of unarmed men, sick and
wounded, and with all our women and children.

The duke <^ Elchingen, having rallied his troops,
the battle recommenced with new fury. The divi-
sion of cuirassiers, commanded by general Doumerc,
made a very bnlliant charge, and at the same mo-

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312 BSRESIIfA.

ment the legion of the Vistula was engaged in the
woods, endeavouring to force the enemy's centre.
These brave cuirassiers, although enfeebled bj fa-
tigue and privations of eveiy kind, performed prodi-
gies of valour. They pierced the enemy's squares,
to(^ several pieces of cannon, and. three or four
thousand prisoners, which our weakness would not
permit us to retain ; for in our cruel situation we
fought not for victory, but only for life, and the
honour of our arms.

In the heat of the engagement many balls flew
over the miserable crowd which was yet pressing
across the bridge of the Beresina. Some shells burst
in the midst of them. Terror and despair then took
possession of eveiy heart. The women and chil-
dren, who had escaped so many disasters, seemed to
have been preserved, only to suffer here a death still
more deplorable. We saw them rushing from the
baggage-waggons, and falling in agonies and tears
at the feet of tiie first soldier they met, imploring his
assistance to enable them to teach the other side.
The sick and the wounded, sitting on the trunks of
trees, or supported by their crutches, anxiously look-
ed around for some friend to help them. But their
cries were lost in the air. No one had leisure to at-
tend to his dearest friend. His own preservation
absorbed every thought.

Monsieur de Labarriere, the muster-master of the
fourth corps, was a man of respectable character, and
engaging manners. His advanced age and more es-
pecially his feeble constitution, had long rendered

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BtR£SINA^ 318

him tinaUe to march, and he was now lying with
many others on an open sledge. He accidentally
perceived anofficer of his acquaintance, and although
he was scarcely able to stand, he ran to him, threw
himself in his arms, and implored his protection.
The officer was severely wounded, but too generous
to refuse his feeble help, he promised that he would
not leave him. These two friends, closely embrac-
ing each other, slowly proceeded towards the bridge
animated by the consoling thought, that at least they
would be permitted to die together. They entered
the crowd ; but, feeble and helpless, they were un-
able to sustain the intolerable pressure, and were
seen no more.

A woman was likewise marching with the equi-
page of Napoleon, whom her husband had left a Uttle
way behind, while he went forward to endeaVour to
find a place where they might safely pass. During
that time a shell burst near the unfortunate female.
The crowd that >vas around her, immediately took
to flight. She alone remained. But the enemy soon
advancing, caused the soldiers to rush back all at
once to the bridge, and, in their confused march,
they hurried the poor woman with them, who strove
in vain to return to the place where her husband had
left her. Buffeted by the tumultuous waves, she
saw herself driven from the spot, without the possi-
bility of return. We heard her from afar, loudly
calling to her husband, but her piercing voice was
unattended to, amidst the noise of arms, and the cries
of the soldiers. At length pale and speechless, she

40 ;

\

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)»eat her breast in agony, and feU lifeless at the feet
of the soldiers, who attentive to their own escape,,
neither saw nor heard her.

At length the Russians continually reinforced by
Ifesh troc^, advanced in a mass, and drove before
them the Polonese corps of general Girard, which till
then had held them in check. At the sight of the
enemy, those who had not already passed, mingled
with the Polanders, knd rushed precipitately towards
the bridge. The artillery, the baggage-waggons,
the cavalry, and the fool-soldiers, all pressed on,
contending which should pass the first- The strong-
est threw into the river those who were weaker, and
hindered their pzissage, or unfeelingly trampled un-
der foot all the sick whom they found in their way.
Many hundreds were crushed to death by the wheels
of the cannon. Others, hoping to save themselves
by swimming, were frozen in the middk of the river,
or perbhed by placing tlfemselves on pieces of ice,
\^hich sunk to the bottom. Thousands and thou-
sands of victims, deprived of all hope, threw them-
selves headlong into the Beresina, and were lost in
the waves.

The division of Girard made its way, by force of
arms through all the obstacles that retarded its
march; and climbing over that mountain of dead
bodies which obstructed the way, gained the other
side. Thither the Russians would soon have fol-
lowed them, if they had not hastened to bum the
bridge.

-.J

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BEHSStKiL 315

Then the unhappy beings who remained on the
other side of the Beresina abandoned themselves to
absolute despair. Some of them, however, yet at-
tempted to pass the bridge^ enveloped as it was in
flames ; but, arrested in the midst of their progress,
they were compelled to throw themselves into the
river, to ^escape a death yet more honrible. At
length the Russians, being masters of the field of
battle, our troops retired ; the uproar ceased, and a
mournful silence succeeded.

As we marched towards Zembin, we re-ascended
the right bank of the Beresina, whence we could dis-
tinctly see all that passed on the other side. The
cold was excessive ; and the wind blew in loud and
hollow gusts. The obscurity of the night was dis-
sipated only by the numerous fires of the enemy,
who occupied the heights* At the foot of these hills
were our unfortunate companions. Their destruc-
tion was now inevitable, and, amidst all their former
disasters, never were they exposed to, nor can ima-
gination conceivejl horrors equal to those which en-
compassed them during that frightful night« The
elements let loose, seemed to conspire to afilict uni-
versal nature, and to chastise the ambition and the
crimes of man. The conquerors and the conquered,
were alike overwhelmed withsutferings. Round the
encampment of the Russians, howevei^- we saw
enormous masses of burning wood, but on the spot
which held our devoted companions, there was
neither light nor shelter. Lamentable cries ^nd

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316 beresima*

groans alone maiked the place which tM>ntained these
miserable victims.

More than twenty thousand sick and wowided
fell into the power of the enemy. Two hundred pie-
ces of cannon were abandoned. All the baggage of
the two coips which had j<Hned us was equally the
prey of the conquerors ; yet, when we contemplated
the d^lorable fate of the wretched beings who were
left on the other side of the Beresina, the conscious-
ness ot omr safety rendered us insensible to the loss <^
all our riches* They were for ever deprived of
the hope of revisiting the land that gave them birth ;
and were doomed to pass the sad remnant of their
days amidst the snows of Siberia, where they would
water with their tears the black bread which wovild
"be the only wages of the most humiliating servitude.

(November 29th.) Setting out on the morrow
ibr Zembin, and endeavouring to rejoin what re-
mained of the fourth corps, we again commiserated
the fate of the numerous friends who were no longer
with us. We eagerly embraced those who had re-
turned; whom we had feared we should never again
have beheld, and congratulated each other on sur-
viving a day more terrible than the bloodiest battle.
We mutually recounted the dangers that we had run,
and the difficulties with which we had struggled to
escape with life. ^I have lost everything,' said
one, ^ servants, horses, baggage ; but I think not of
it ! I rather esteem myself most fortunate, that I have
preserved my life, that I have escaped from the iur
(Clemency of the weather, the horrors of famine, and

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BKRESINA*

317

the arms of the enemy.' * I have nothing but what
I cany about me,' said a second, ^ and of all that I
had, I only wish for some shoes to defend my feet,
and some bread to eat : these are the truest riches.'
^ I have lost all,' exclaimed a third, ^ but I do not
regret it, since the sacrifice of my baggage hs^ ena-
bled me to save my wounded brother.' Such was
the language which we heard, during several succes-
sive days ; and thosefl^were silent, deeply mused
on the dangers whi^^^Hlad passed, and rendered
their secret but ferV^Hinks to Providence^ for a
preservation almost mKculous.

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v:"V

V ^

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BOOK X

THE NI£MEN»

THE fatal passage of the Beresina having reduced
our corps of reserve to the same condition as thoSe
who had been as far as Moscow, realizied the fatal
predictions, which had long been announced to us ;
and, with the exception of our chief (whose Hfe Pro-
vidence seems to have continued, only to deliver
him to greater remorse and despair,) all was accom-
plished.

How dreadful was the punishment of this conquer-
or, to lose the provinces which he occupied with
more rapidity than be had envaded them ; to have
the melancholy cypress, instead of the laurels of vic-
tory, and cities smoking with recent slaughter, in-
stead of the incense of applause; and, finally, as the
companions of his triumph, twenty thousand disarm-
ed soldiers, without linen and without stockings,
whose only shoes were contrived from their worn-out
hats, whose shoulders were covered with pieces of
^cking, and the skins of horses newly flayed.

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320 THE NIEMEK.

These were deplorable remains of five hundred
thousand brave warriors, who, but for the ambition of
a single man, would alwajs have been the honour
of France, and the terror of their enemies.

(November 29th.) We arrived very early at the
village of Kamen, and were continuing our route to
Plescenkovice, when Colaud^ commander of the ad-
vanced-guard, returned, and announced to us that
two thousand cossacks, had entered the city, crying
^ Hourra V and were massacreing every one whom
they found in the streets. ' The duke of Reggio,'
said he, ' being wounded last night, was scarcely able
to reach the {^ace ; but, happily, many officers has-
tening to render him assistance, or to die at his side,
excited a fear in the enemy that we were contriving
some ambush. They retired to a neighboring
height, and cannonaded the marshal's house, to make
it capitulate. As if a fatahty pursued the duke of
Reggio, a cajinon-ball striking on a beam, broke off
a splinter, by which he was pgain slightly wounded.*
This officer likewise ipformed us, ' that general Pino
had been in the same quarters, and that Count Dan-
thouard, on entering into Plescenkovice, had scarce-
ly time to escape to his carriage*'

This news determined us to remain at Kamen.
The next day (30th November) we set out before day-
break, and passing by Plescenkovice, the accounts
which we had received on the preceding evening,
were confirmed. We saw the house where the duke
of Reggio had taken up his quarters, and were sur-
prised that two thousand cossacks had not ventured to

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XHB lOCBfEN. 321

carry €ff bjr fiarce, a marshal who was cmly defended
hy twenty wounded officers. Napoleon halted in
this city, but t)ie viceroy contiiraing his route, en-
camped in a deserted village, near Zavichino, which
accondkig to the map, was named Niestanovitsch.

(December 1st.) The following day, about seven
in the moritfng, the viceroy^ accompanied by a few
officers, placed himself at the head of some grenadiers
of the myal guard, who yet remained faithful to their
colbtirs. ykher a very long march, for men exhaust-^
ed wMi fatigue, we arrived at the town of Uiia. The
Jews, forming the majority of the population, had not
quitted their houses, and the love of gain induced
them to bring out some provisions, which they had
riitended to conceal* We paid them liberally, for in
such a situation, the poorest nourishment was prefer-^
able to gold. 'Without this assistance, we should
have lost the "brav e aqd estimable colonel Durieu,
whose heaUHRIP much declined ; less perhaps on
account of deprivatfipRo which he had been expos*
ed, than thiMisdtiM zeal with which he fulfilled his
important and laborious duties.

(December 24) The next day, when we march-
ed upon Moiodestichino, was still more fatiguing
and bf^ressive. We marched for twelve hours with*
out haMng, through an immense forest* The cold
was excessive, and the only thing which could afford
us consdatiott. Was the persuasion, that the cossacks
would no longer harass our right. Captain Jouard^
who had been spnt to Vileika, to geneml Wrede, as**

41

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322 THE NI£M£N«

sured us that the Bavarians still maintained that im-*
portant position.

We were in a pitiable situation w^en we arrived
at Molodestchino. Happily the houses were good,
and some of the proprietore, who still remained, pro-
cured us the means of subsistence. The next morn-
ing the equipages of Napoleon begiif to depart.
They were scarcely out of the village, when a multi-
tude of Cossacks presented themselves, and would
have taken them, if they had not hastily returned* to
place themselves under the protection of the troops,
who yet retained their arms. The viceroy was pre-
paring for his departure, when it was announced to
him that we were to remain at Molodestchino, biit
that he must evacuate the chateau which he occupi-
ed, for the use of Napoleon, who would soon arrive.

This repose was the more precious as the ability
to procure some provisions, by di nt of searching for
them, enabled us to emplo y it pr olpH|Wit Neverthe-
less, many soldiers expired iPBVr^ets. fThe same
desolation extended to the housedl||]jWMW#the officers
lodged. Some were sick from excessive fatigue, and
protested that they could go no further ; others whose
feet were frozen, and who had no horses, found them-
selves obliged, though full Of courage to remain in
the hands of the Russians. The generals were ex-
posed to the same calamities, for many of them, hav-
ing lost their servants and their carriages, were un-
able to replace them. In such circumstances if the
slightest sickness attacked them they expired for^
want of assistance. Such was our situation in Mo-

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THE NIEMEIC. 323

lodejfcscbfaio^ \^ben Napoleon wrote in characters of
blood, the fatal twenty-ninth buUetm, which made
France and her allies a large family of mourners.

(December 4th.) We quitted the village, but
did not take the great road which leads throu^
Zachk^vitschi, directly to Smorghoni. We kept to
the left of this rock, wMch, indeed, . promised little
safety, and pursued a by-road, which conducted .us
by Lebioda to Markovo. We encamped in this vilr
lage with some soldie^ of the first corps, while the
.emperor and his guard were at Bienitsa, about half a
league from us.

(December .6th.) Setting out for Smorghoni, we
crossed some marshy country, which would have
been absolutely impassible, had it not been for the
rigour of the season. It was therefore evident to us
that these regions axe completely defended by their
very nature, and that independent of the rigour of
winter, ^^^ JflMjP of Lithuania wpuld have been our
grave. \^pn "^^kf^lid ^t ^bis little town, we did
not find tt^y^s^c^ which we had been promised.
All the houses were deserted, and the Jews, having
taken flight, had deprived us of their assistance. We
found however, in the magazines, some casks of bis*
cuits, which were immediately devoured.

Napoleon, terrified by so many disasters, and still
more so by the fear of losing his authority in France,
conceived the idea of abandoning these miserable
remains of his army, for the purpose of demanding
from his senate new levies ; and, tortured by that just
tenor which always pursues the despot, he imagined

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that hiB allies .wete eager to diasclvfe the timtpM^
MFkich bad plactd them mier hia iiloii ydc^ .

Full oftbia resoliilioOy b«£elt aswred^ when he
viived at SflMr^baiUy &at the load was aafe as &r
las the Niemen^ and called together die th^& of the
«rm J. Aftenrards h? had a pivate. cdnfaneoce widi
Ifae viceioj. This being finished, Na4K>leoa lasiied
60B1 bis cabinet) fiiUowed b j the maater of the hdCMi^
ibe marshal of the palace, and general Lefiebre Des^
WHiettes^ Crossing one of the balls, be met the kiqg
of Naples, wad said to him, with an indiffeteat aii^
^ Adieu king of Naples P While pronoundag these
words he want out, ae0)ihpanied bj the three, per-
sons who were going with him* Beinfp seated in bis
carriage, lire placed at his side geneml Desnoocttea
The master of the hcHM, and the miariial of the pa<-
lace entered a second, which immediately fbltotped
cm the route to Wilna. No address was made to the
armj, no proclamaticm to the LilipHMlj^ to vism^
mate their dejected spirits. |M||!l^ne wa|||without a
chief, the other abandoned byrnn^ho-lpid {flronlid^
edthem ever/ thing.

The king of Naples took the command of the
army, but thej marched with so much disorder and
precipitation, that it was only when they arrired at
Wilna, that the soldiers were informed i>f a 'depar-
Iture as discouraging as it was unexpected. * What,'
said they among themselves, ' is it thus tlm^ he
abandons those of whom he calld himself tbe falhitf f
Where then is that genius, it ho, in the height of
jprosperity, exhorted us to bear otir sufferings patieitf^

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Ijr f >H# ivho lavished our blood, is* te afraid to die
with us ? Win he treat as like the army of Egrpt,
to^ whom, after hsriDg saved him faitfafullf , be be-^
came mdaiSmeai) v^n, bj a ahamdot flight he found
Idms^ free from danger ?' jSueh was the conviirsa-^
lioo of the wldieiS) which €hef accompanied by the
mmt violeot execmtiomk Never was indignation
more jaaty for never were a class (tf men so worthy 6f
iiity.

The presence of tke empemr had kept the chiefs
to their duty, but when they heard of his departure,
the greater part of them followed his example, and
s^mefuUy abandoned the remains of tte regiments
yfMk whiditiiey had been intnisted. Until then we
had frmod, at intervals, some few armed soldiers,
who, leonducted by their officers, rallied round the
standaidr whidi tbey had sworn never to forsake, but
withlife. But from Ae moment that ihey were de-
prived of tiieirtdKeiS) and that unheard-of calamities
had redaced then* niinrtidrs, those bmve soldiers, who
ware intrusted with the immediate charge, were re-
duced tithe psdnful neces^ty of hiding them in their
Iraapsacks. Many of them, sensible that they were
expiring, and knowing that the honor of a French
soldier consisted in preserving his colours, with a
weak hand dug up the ground, to save from the Rus-
siaos those ensigns under which our arms had been
raked to tile pinnacle of glory.

The division of Loison, which had cbmef before
us from Koningsberg, and that of tlie Neapolitans,
from WJlna, having been obliged to encamp in a

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326 THE NIEMfiN.

cold of twen^-two degrees, were totalff d^troyedj
and out of six thousand men, of which each was
composed, we could only see, throu^ a thick fog,
some feeble battalions, who ran on the road like-mad-
men. They beat the earth with tl»»r feet, to keep
themselves from being benumbed by the frost, and
if, unfortunately, they were urged by the wants of
nature, losing the use of their hands, they fell on the
ground, and rose again no more. They who could
support die fatigue of marc^ng, only prolonged
their misery ; and if at length, weaiy of life, they
wished to terminate their sufferings, it was nec^sa-
ry only to aMtnd still.

The road which we followed, pi;esented at every
step, brave officers, covered with rags, suppoited by
branches of pine, their hair and beards stiffened by
the ice. These warriors, who/ a short time before,
were the teiror of our en?mies, and the conquerors of
Europe, having now lost their fine appearance, crawl-
ed slowly along, and could scarcely obtain a look of
pity from the soldiers whom they had formerly com^
manded. Their situation became still more dread-
ful, because all who had not strength to march were
abandoned, and every one who was abandoned by his
comrades, in an hour afterwards inevitably perished.
The next day every bivouac presented the image of a
field of battle. Whenever a soldier, overcame with
fatigue, chanced to fall, his next neighbour rushed
eagerly upon him, and before he was dead, robbed
him of all that he possessed, and even of his clothes.
Every moment we heard some of these unhappy men

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THE N1£M£N. 9S!J

crying out for assistance* ' My comrades,' cried
one, widi a heart-rending voice, ^ assist nie to rise ;
lend me a hand to pursue my march.' Erery one
coi^inued his march without regarding him. ^ Ah I
he continued, ^ I conjure you by erery thing which
is dear to you, do not abandon me to the enemy ; in
the name of humanity, grant the little assistance I
ask; help me to rise.' Btit those who passed, far from
being mo?ed by this touching prayer, regarded him
as already dead, and immediately began to strip him.
We then heard him ciying out, ' Oh, help ! help !
They murder me ; they murder me ! why do you
trample upon me ? Why do you snatch from me my
money and ifny bread^ and take from me even my
clothes !' If some generous officer did not arrive in
time to deliver them, many of these unfortunate be-
ings would be assassinated by their own commdes.

(December 7.) We arrived at JoupranoUi a lit-
tle before night. Overcame with fatigue, we were
obliged to stop there. The ruined houses afforded
us no shelter from the rigour of the season. Lying
on each other, suffering with hunger, and pierced
with cold, we passed the night in groans.

We marched early in the morning (8th Decem-
ber,) and arrived at Ochmiana about eleven o'clock.
The winter was so severe, that the soldiers burnt
whole houses to avoid being frozen. We saw round
the fires, the half-consumed bodies of many unfor-
tunate men, who, having advanced too near, in order
to warm themselves, and being too weak to recede,
had become a prey to the flames. Some miserable

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9m ttm raEioK

b«iags14ftdDBiied with smdre, and btsmeftied
tlM Uood of tbm hoiMs whioh thejr had devocmd^
wandeiedlike f^aotts^ round the bmrmiig houaou
The/ gaeed on the dead bodies of their compamone
and, too feeble toatqipait themaebes, feUdowU) and
died like, them*

. We expected to have receired aome pmviaioni
in this town, bnt.we wereinfwmed that the coisadn
had piUaged the magannes, and that Napdeon had
' passed throo^ half an hour after they were gone^
We thdi^ continued our rotrte, marching in the midat
of the d€«idand tkedying, and. at length amredat
the fffietched stone chateau of Rorao^Po^ where
the prince and his staff pasaed a mis^able ni^it

Miafintane harhig equaliased all conditions, everji
thing was confeimded. It was in vain that the tiffin
cm endearcnred to aaaert their authority ; it was in-,
sdeotfy^ denied. The celonel, who had no food, was
obliged to beg a piece of biscuit from the prirati
aoldier. The man who possesaed pioiriGions, ai«
tibougli he wwe & serf ant, was surrounded by a
crowd of courtiers, who, to obtain food, threw aside
theirrank and distinction, and condescended to caresa
him. In short, to form an adecpiate idea of ;the dread- .
ful disorder to which limine and cold had reduced
us, you must figure to yourself thirty thousand men,
ofdiferent ranks, marching together, without ordi»
and without discipline ; ignorant of the road they
were going, and only stopping .when weariness €a
caprice impelled them. The chie6 themselves, being
accustomed to command, were the moat unfortunate.

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TH£ NIEMEN.

Tbej were shcmned, to avoid rendering ihem assis-,^
tance ; for, in our situation, even to give a ^ass of
v^eij or to raise a fellow-soldier from the ground,
were offices of kindness which claiined the warmest
gratitude.

The route was covered with soldiers who no long^
er retained the human form, and whom the enemy
disdained to make prisoners. Every day these mis-
erable men made us witnesses of scenes too dreads
ful to relate. Some had lost their hearing, others
their speech, and many, by excessive cold and hun-
ger, were reduced to a state of frantic stupidity, in
which they roasted the dead bodies: olT their comrades
ibr food, or even knawed their own hands and arms**
Some were so weak, that, unable to lift a piece of
wood, or roll a stone towards the fires which they
bad kinged, they sat upon the dead bodies of their
<y>mra4es, and, widi a haggard countenance, stead-
fastly gazed upon the burning coals. No sooner
was the fire extinguished, than these lividg spectres,
unable to rise, fell by the side o^those on whom they
had sat We saw many who were absolute insane*
To warm their frozen feet, they plunged them nk-
ked into the middle of the fire. Some^ with a con-
vulsive laugh, threw themselves into the flames, and
perished in the most horrible convulsions,, and ut-
tering the most piercing cries ; while others, equally
insane, immediately followed them, and experienced
the same &Lte.

• Official B^ort, publtak«d by the Russiuit «t Wifina, 2d December, 181^

.42

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330 THE NIEMEN.

Such was oiir situalion when we arrived at the
village of Roukoni, where some wretched* barns
alone remained filled with dead bodies. Being on^-
iy three leagues from Wilna, many continued their
march, that they might arrive fiist in that city;
where they hoped not only to find abundance of
provisions, but to remain some days and enjoy that
repose which they so much needed* The fourth
corps, which could not muster more than two hun-
dred men, who were yet faithful to their duty, halt'-
ed in this wretched village;

At break of day we hastened to quit Roukoni,
where the cold and the smoke had prevented us
from closing our eyes. When we were commencing
our march,^ the Bavarians^ who formed the rear-
guard, hastily advanced, ciying out that the enemy
was pursuing them. The evening before it was re-
ported that they had obtained some advantages over
the Cossacks ; but the disorder in which they now
anrived, proved that this intelligence was false. How^-
ever, we must do them the justice to say that they
yet retained some pieces of cannon, but the horses
were so weak* that they couldnot drag them along.

Eveiy day'd laarch presented a repetition of the
mournful scenes of which I have given a slight
sketch. Our hearts were so hardened to these dread-
ful spectacles, that all sensibility was entirely lost^
Self-preservation was the only motive which actua-
ted us, in the state of barbarism to which we were
reduced. Wilna occupied <?very thought, and the
hope that that position would permit us- to take some

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7BE m£M£K. 331

vepose, hii!q[wed those w^^ able to continue

lAi^ix march) yrith such extreme joy^ that they re-
garded with indifference the miserable beings who
crowded the road^ stru^ling with the agonies of
death. Wihia however, the object of our dearest
hopes, and to which we were prising on with such
eagerness, was soon found to be another Smolensko.
At length we arrived at its suburbs, so ardently
desired ; but our happiness was sa^y alloyed whea
we saw the whole of this immense place obstructed
by a crowd oi carriages, horses and men. This con-
fusion recalled the Bejresina to my mind :; and such
y9QB our stupidity, that being accustomed to follow
our column, we were afraid of losing ourselves if we
ventured a few steps from it ; thus, while all were
pressing against each other to enter at the same gatc^
there were, at the K%ht and left, other avenues unob^
structed.

• When we arrived in tfie city, we found it in ex-
treme ^sorder ; the soldiers were running in every
direction to ascertain the quarters assigned to their
respective corps. Those of the fourth corps going
to the municipality, saw written in large characters,
that they were to quarter in Ihe convent of St. R^
phael on the other side of the Vilia. Before they
.went thither they ran as if they were almost famished
from house to house demanding food. The eating
houses and taverns, not being sufficient for the im-
mense number of guests, were instantly shut up.
But hunger determined us to find provisions ; and we
were contpeUed tq break, open the doors. , Others

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SSSt XHS vfm^zp*

with monej in th<»r hands, pmsued the ^^bwb^ who in*
spite of our generosity, cttokl not satisfy ys to the ^i*
tentof our wants.

AtWiina, we heard that Nap<ieoa had passed
throu^ incognito^ escoited by a feehle detadhmeiilr
of three regiments erf Neapolitan cavalry, which had
been sent before him to ctear Im loiide. These
poor inhabitants of the south were half dead when
they passed in review : scarcely had \b^ departed
from Wilna, when a third part of them fell into the
rear, having their hands, feet, aqd noses, entirely
frozen. The departure of Napoleon in this disguise
ed' manner, npt only spread consternation anaong
the Lithuanians, who were devoted to us, but sadly
discouraged the French troops. The first were in-^
dignant at finding themselves exposed to the re«
sentment of a master, whose yoke they had wished
to shake ofi*; the others were alarmed for their ofw
preservation, for, in a situation so critical, every
one thought that the absence of the chief consum-
mated our ruin. Many, however, who felt all the
dangers to which we were exposed, yet jealous for
the glory of our arms, thought-his departure was for-'
tunate. — ^ Napoleon,' said they, ' when at Paris, will
re-organize a noble army ; will i^^oure the peace of
France, and maintain the co-operation of the adlies,
whose defection would be so dangerous^'

About three o?clock in the afternoon, the rear of
pur long column had scarcely entered the suburbs,
when we heard that the cossacks had taken posses-
|ion of the heights which commanded the city. Ip

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/

THE !91EM£ff. 3S9

affect they aooh began to fire u{x>n istl* At the re*
port of the cannon, the new troops who were fil
Wilna, beat the dnim and sounded the trumpet. Ifi
fn instant the place was in arms. By one of those
chances by which Providence confounds the proud,
wid pomahes the insolent, It happened that th^ co»
lomal power of Napoleon was so completelj reduce
ed in this iron climate, as to have no other support
tiian the remains of a Neapolitan division, formed
from the garrisons of Tarentum and Capua. These
troops being quickly dispersed, terror immediately
spread through* the city ; and at the single word
<j^ the ^ cossacks^^ all the sddteis rushed from their
quarters and betook themselves to flight The king
of Naples, forgetting his rank, suddenly abandoned
Ids palace, and on foot, followed by his officers, pierc*
ed through the crowd, and escaped from the town to
encamp on the road to Kowno^

While some of the soldiers took arms, others, as
night advanced, profiting by the evacuation of the
magazines, carried off the clothes and military equip-:
tnei^ which had been collected there ; but the great-
er part searching only for food^ knocked at every
door, and their redoubled blows seemed the dreadful
presage of a universal pillage. The inhabitants,
trembling in their houses, dreaded the impending
desolation, as they heard on every side the noise of
cannon, which thundered over their heads.

We gave up ail hope of repose, and the feeble
telics of our army not being able to resist the attacks
pi the enemy, we, determined to profit by the

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S34 THE NIEMEI?.

obscuritj of the night, to quit so dangerous a poA*
tion. It was decided, that at eleven o'clock we
diould evacuate the town. The hcnir being krrived^
we silently proceeded on our route, leaving the
streets covered with soldiers, intoxicated, asleep, or
dead. The courts, the galleries, the stairs of the va-
rious buildings, were filled with them, and not one
would march, or even rise to obey the orders of the
chief who called him. After leaving Wilna, with as
much difficulty as we entered it, the prince and the
staff went to the king of Naples, where ^ the officeis
remained till one o'clock in the morning.

In the middle of a daric night (10th Deceniber,)
We marched on the road to Kowno, but the snow
which covered the country, caused us to wander eve-
xy moment, and left us for a long time uncertain of
the road ; for the Poles going to New-Troki, had left
the traces of another route which was calculated to
mislead us. Two hours afterwards we arrived at the
foot of a mountain, inacce^ible on account of its
steepness, and the ice with which it was covered.
All around were the remains of the equipageis of
Napoleon, the baggage left at Wilna, the treasures
.of the anny, and the waggons containing the fatal
trophies brought from Moscow, so that we no longer
doubted that we were on the road to Kowno.
- While we were groaning at the foot of this moun-
tain, without the power to climb it, we distinctly
'heard the firing between the cossacks and our sharp-
shooters. Actuated by that unseasonable discontent
«and illrhumour which inisfurtune inspires, many ejt^

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TH£ fitBMX^ ^5

daimed^hat it would have been Wter to have gone
to New-Troki, and to have avoided this fatal moun*
tain. All who were thus arrested here, and who
were mostly sack or wounded, considered them*^
selves as a certain prey to the enemy. Their giHief
was increased by the reflection that they must per-
ish j^er having so nearly reached the wished for
post, and having escaped the dangers of Erasnoe
and the fieresina. Their grief was soon changed to
despair, when we heard that the cossacks, having
passed Wilna, had pursued our rear-guard and were
advancing towards us. Dire necessity, however com-
pelled us to wait till the dawn of day, that we might
discover whether there were any means of going
round the mountain, which our horses could not
climb. In this interval we kindled a fire, and every
one deeply sighing, iihpatiently waited the return
of day.

We looked every Y^h&e in vain ; the mountain
was so slippery, and me horses so fatigued, that we
despaired of escape. The idea then oceured tO;Us of
compelling the soldiers of the escort to carry the mo-
ney belonging to the military chest It then contain-
ed about five millions, the greatest part of which was
in crowns. We had little doubt, however,^ that the
soldiers, whom it was impossible to watch, or to de-
tect, would cany off, for their own use, that which
was intrusted to their care. The standards taken
from the enemy, respectmg which these venal
wretches ware no longer interested, weie cowardly
abandoned at the foot o^J^P^Quntain. Among these
was the fam^ ones (^ St. I wan, which would have

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SX VBS irusfiiEir.

made ao glimoos an additkm to our trophies^ if tha
Rusaiansy whom we termed baibarian^, had not giv«
en us a noble example of a moderation which rarel/
accompanies victoij*

Those who followed augmented the number df
plunderers, and it was truly curious to see those who
were dying with hunger, laden wkh more riches thao
Aey could possibly cany. They saw the money dis*
tributed among them, with the most perfect indiffar**
ence ; and searched in preference for the coarsest
food. Trunks and portmanteaus broken open and
plundered, were seen in every direction. Hie most
superb court-dresses, and the richest furs were worn
by those whose countenances were hideous and dis--
gusting. Returning from the pillage, many of them
offered sixty francs for a louis, and sonm gave tea
crowns, fcnr a glass of brandy. One of the soldiers^
in my presence, offered to sell a cask filled with
silver, for a few pieces of gold: it was boilg^ by
a superior officer who placed it on his sledge. It is
impossible to form an adequate idea of the confu-
sion which our army now presented. F^r from being
reanimated by the presence of some battalions lately
arrived from Prussia, they spread consternation among
these new troops, who, not knowing whom to
obey, likewise threw away their arms, and increased
the crowd of stra^lers. In short, all our soldiers,
transformed into brokers, only sought to sell their
stolen goods, while those who had pillaged the mili-
tary chest were eager to buy, that they might, at
least, retain something •v&lmtble. Eveiy one spoke

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THE NIEMEN. 337

lamiliaily of ingots and jewels. Every soldier was
laden with silver, but none with a musket. Ought
wte to be astonished at the fears which the cossacks
inspired ?

In this state of confusion, after five hours dis-
tressing march, we arrived at £v^, about ten leagues
from Wilna. We had scarcely entered it when the
count Mejean,* supported by his son and the valet
de chambie of the prince, arrived. This unfortu^
nate father, to whose generous devotion to the ser*-
vice I regret that the limits of my work will not per-
mit me to do justice, had been obliged to travel on
foot, from the mountain of Wilna, across a country
covered with snow. But this nobleman, whose cour-^
age had often astonished us, and who, though not a^
soldier, had patiently endured the sufferings to'
which we' were subjected, felt such great attachment
to the prince, that he quite. forgot the misfortunes of
the day as soon as he found himself in the presence
of his highness.

Similar miseries happened to others. The prince
of Eckmuhl, weakened by a fever, could only travel
in a carriage. The quarter-master-general Joubert,
who had long been destitute of servants, had been
left in this village, in a situation so miserable, that
he excited the tears of all who saw him. We were

* Counsellor of state of the kingdom of Italy* and secretary to the vice-
roy. He had been present during the whole campaign with his two sons,
and heard at the Beresina, that his youngest son had been killed at the bat-
ie of Polotsk.

. 43 .

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3S8 TH£ NIEMEN.

equally anxious respecting the &te of many oibet
officers who remained with the ba^age of thtf
prince. In the evening- we ascertained, that.owii^
to the skill and extraordinary activity of the adju-^
tant of the palace Boutarel, these stragglers, had
gone to New^Troki to avoid the mountain of Wilna^
and that it was only the length of the journey whidi
prevented them from arriving at £v4-

(December 11th;) Leaving this villa^^ we were
mformed by those who had escaped from Wilna,
that the Russians had entered it at day-break. A
crowd of generals, colonels, and officers, and more
than twenty thousand soldiers, who were detained
by weakness, fell into their hands. They added, that
the officers bad been well treated, but that every sol-
dier or servant was immediately ordered to Moscow
to be employed in rebuilding the city. These un-
fortunate men lying in the streets, or public places,
withopt fire, without food, and most of them wound-*
ed or sick, presented a spectacle so afflicting, that
the enemy endeavoured to mitigate their sufferings.
The least to be pitied, were those who, having been
plundered by the cossacks, died shortly after our de-
parture. We now had a thousand proofs of human
weakness ! the same men who had dragged them-
selves along from Moscow to Wilna, wanted cour-
age to pursue their course a few leagues more, when
that little space would have ensured their existence.
We heard also that the Jews had ill-treated many of
ova soldiers, particularly those of the imperial guard,
thus wishing to take revenge for the losses which

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THE NI|:BfE19. 389

diey had. suffered ; but the Russians, with that ju&r
tice which always characterised them, hung many of
these Israelites, as a lesson to the people that they
should not mingle their passions with the quarrels of
sovereigns*

The rear of our long column, which covered all
the road with the dead and the dying, was continual-
ly followed by a cloud of cossacks, who pillaged our
soldiers, and afterwards left them to the custody of
th^ peasants, who carried* them into the rear, after
treating them with a thousand indignities. At
length the Russians, weary of makii^ prisoners,
liberated all the soldiers belonging to the confede*-
ration of the Rhine, and contented themselves with
detaining officers of distinction. But when they
seized a Frenchman, miseraUe as he was, they strip-
ped him, and treated him with the greatest ridicule.
If he marched with them during the mght, he was
orderedHo fetch water or wood. They afterwards
brutally drove him from the fire which he had kind-
led. Such was the fatal lot of the soldiers, who, com-
pelled to fight, are always the principal victims of
the calamities which flow from the quarrels of kings.

A cossack officer, who spoke very good French,
overtook one of our sutlers, who earnestly implored
mercy, exclaiming that he was not a soldier. He
then offered his purse to satisfy the cossac^. Not
content with this prize, they began to search him,
tod found in his pockets boxes of gold, diamonds,
and numerous rings enriched with precious stones,
which he had, no doubt, taken at the pillage of Mos*

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340 THE NIEMEN.

COW. At the sight of this, the officer could not re«
strain his indignation, and said to the sutler, ^' See
to what your avarice has reduced you. In the hope
of plunder, you have followed the armies, to share
in their booty, without partaking of their dangers.
In obtaining these much desired riches, you have
been enfeebled by their weight, and could not es-
cape my pursuit. I could justly send you captive
to the city you have ravaged ; but you are too mis-
erable to re-build that which you have destroyed.
Return if you can to France ; and when you speak
of our clemency, describe to your fellow citizens
the miserable state to which they expose themselves
who trouble the peace of the world, by following
the standards of an unjust aggressor*" At these,
words he left him to the cossacks, who, disdaining
to make him prisoner, drove him before them, beat-
ing him with the handle of their lances.

Before we arrived at Zismori, we heard a can-
nonade at our rear, and at no great distance ; we
hence concluded that the few soldiers of the rear-
guard which remained, were briskly pursued. Not-
withstanding this, the fatigue of the troops was so
great that many, preferring repose to safety, stopped
^at Zismori ; but the viceroy went on to the village
of Roumchichki.

(December 12th.) Exhausted by long and harass-
ing marches, and dying with fatigue, we at length
arrived at Kowno, where the wrecks of thfe different
corps were re-united. They encamped as usual in
the streets, and as we knew that our deplorable sit-

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THE NIEMEN. S41

uation no longer permitted us to preserve any dis-
cipline, we gave up. to pillage, the magazines, which
were amply stored. Immediately, clothes, com, and
mm, were every where seen in abundance. Our
quarters were filled with broken casks, and the li-
quor which was spilled, formed a little sea, in the
middle of the public square. The soldiers, having
long been deprived of this bevarage, drank to excess,
and more than two thousand of them, completely
intoxicated, slept upon the snow. Benumbed with
cold they all perished.

It was announced in the evening that the fourth
corps would take the road to Tilsit ; and as many of
us, to avoid the strange confusion which generally
prevailed, had been accustomed to sleep one or two
leagues beyond the head-quarters, a great number
set eut towards that town. In the middle of the
night, the chief of the staff came to look for the
Iburth Cbrps, which was literally shut up in a single
room. He told us that the order had been revoked ;
and that we were to proceed to Gumbinnen instead
of Tilsit This order and counter-order completed
our ruin. From that time, the fourth corps consist-
ed only of the huusehold of the prince, and about
eight or ten staflF-ofiicers.

(December 13th.) As we left Kowno on the mor-
row, we found the same tumult which we had ex-
perienced at the gate of Wilna. The crowd was
pressing towards the bridge, although the Niemen
was frozen hard enough to have borne the weight of
artillery. In Kowno and its environs, we saw a great

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342 TH£ NI£MEN«

number of unfortunate soldiers lying on the snow,
who had perished when they so nearly reached the
end of this fatal expedition. We were particularly
affected at seeing colonel Vidman among the dead.
He was one of the small number of the Italian guards
of honour, who had, till then, sustained the same fa^
tigues as ourselves t but, unable to proceed further,
he fell, as he was leaving Kowno to cross the bridge
and expired, without having the satisfaction of dying
out of Russia.

The calamities of the army had extended to the
imperial guard, and many of its soldiers died every
day from hunger, cold and fatigue. Among these
victims I saw one truly worthy of admiration. He
was an old grenadier. As he lay on the bridge of
Kowno, he was spared by the crowd, who, passing
by him, had respected his uniform, his decorations,
and, above all, his three chevrons. This brave man
seemed to await his death with the utmost firmness,
and disdained to have recourse like so many others,
to useless supplications. By chance, some of his
comrades passed by, and then he made a last effort
to rise, but unable to accomplish it, and feeling him-
self dying, he summoned all his strength and said
to ohe of his companions, who approached* to assist
him, ^ Cease my friend. Do not lavish on me su-
perfluous assistance. I die \\ith regret at being con-
quered by enemies with whom we could not fight.
Famine and winter have alone reduced me to the
state in which you now see me. This body, which
has supported more than ten wounds, fall& miserably

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TH£ NIBMEN« 343

td'daj for want of a morsel of bread* Ah ! if our
enemies indeed triumph- by means of the rigour of
their climate, let them not profane the distinctions
that I have gained in fighting against them. Cany
16 my captain this decoration, ^hich was given to
me on, the field of Austerlitz; take him likeivise
my sabre ; I used it in the battle of Friedland, and
it would still be as fatal to the Russians, as it was at
that period, if the approaching spring would per-
mit us to p;o to Petersburg, as we have been to Mos^
cow.'

On the morning of the 13th of December, out of
four hundred thousand warriors, who had crossed
the Niemen at the opening of the campaign, scarce-
ly twenty thousand men re-passed it, of whom at
least two thirds had not seen the Kremlin. Arrived
at the opposite bank, Uke ghosts returned from the
infernal regions, we fearfully looked behind us, and
bdbeld with horror the savage countries where we
had suffered so much* No person would then easi-
ly believe that we had once regarded these climates
with envy, and thought those dishonoured who arriv-
ed at them last.

After crossing the bridge we turned to the left to
reach Gumbinnen* Many wished to go to the right ;
still thinking, after the order of" the preceding eve-
ning, that they must march to Tilsit. We who fol-
lowed the proper road, had not proceeded far,
when we were obliged to climb a lofty mountain,
prodigiously adcep, and which would have been fa-
tal to our equipages, if we had not long ago been

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344 THE NIEM£!I»

deprived of them. Many carts and carriages ^v^idi
were in the depot oi Kowuo, and a superb park qf
artillerj, lately arrived from Keningsb^rg^ were 1^
at the foot of the mountain. .

Scarcely had we arrived in Poland, when our sot
diers dispersed indifferent roads, and wapdered, like
simple travellers^ in the same country, which six
months before, had been covered with our numer*
ous armies. In the evening the king of Naples and
the prince halted at Skrauda. The same morning
(14th December,) when we departed from this vil-
lage, the cossacks entered Kowqo, pa^ed the Nie-
men, which was frozen at every point, and spread
themselves over the immense plains of Poland whew
they massacred, or made prisoners many of our scat-
tered soldiers, who not thinking that the Russians
would pass the Niemen, tliought that they were safe.

From Skrauda many took the direction of Thorn ;
but the viceroy still continued ito follow the road ef
Gumbinnen, and arrived in this little town after hav-
ing slept at Pillwizken, Virballen, and Darkehmen
(14th, 16th, 16th, and 17th December.) Thence he
sent general Gifflenge, his aid-de-camp, to Konings-
berg, to order all those of the 4th corps, who had tak-
en the road of Tilsit, to proceed to Marienwerden

Koningsberg being the first great city in the vi-
cinity of our march, was soon filled with -those who,
having escaped from Moscow, hoped now to recover
from the misfortunes which they had suffered. The
coffee-houses, the restaurateurs, the furnished hotels^
eould not at any one price satisfy the extent of our

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Waiiti. ti was necessary to pierce through a crowd
tb enter any of them. The cold was terrible but the
delicious sensation of knowing that we could no#
defend ourselves against it, and ftibreov6r the plea-
sure of obtaining whatever we desired, were still
more heightene'd, since six mtohths of continual hard-
ships had deprived us of every thing in which the*
comforts oif life consisted.

The king of Naples came to Kotiingsberg, where
he was coldly received by the principal authorities of
the town. -The chiefs of each corps placed them-
selves in cantonments along the Vistula, and occupi-
ed the towns of Flock, Thorn, Marienberg, Marien-
werdef, and Elbing. Durii% this time the viceroy,
having quitted Gumbinhen, pa^ed by Iftsterberg and
Weblati, (18th, 19th December^) to visit the fields of
Friedland, Eylau, and Heilsbergh (20th, 21st, 22d
December,) thus furnishing himself, even in these
unhappy circumstances, with subjects for useful me-
ditation. (27th December) Hi^ highness arrived at
Marienwerder, where he was occupied in collecting
together all who remained of the fourth corps. After
every research, we succeeded in collecting about
eight hundred wounded, the miserable remains of
forty-eight thousand warriors, all of whom had
marched from Italy to RussiaL They were the vic-
tims, not of the arms of the eneiny, but of the fatal
imprudence of their chief, who, not satisfied with ha-
ving subjugated the b^st half of Europe, wished to
Contend with the elements, for a country which con-
sisted only of^desertsf. The viceroy aflerwards deft^-

44

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34ft- * tut NI£MEIf#

patched towAtdk France and Italy those officers aoiril
soldiers, whose infirmities would not permit them to*
undertake another campaign. He rewarded those
soldiers who had behaved well, and punished, bjr^e
most sensible disgraces, those few who had dishcm*
eured themselves by a eowardfy . and pusillanimottS
conduct.

Such were the dreadful calamities which annihi^
lated a powerful army, which had rashly undertaken
the proudest and* the most useless of all expeditions.
If we look into the annals of antiquity, w shall find
that never since the time of Cambyse% did so nume*
rous a body of men experience such dreadful rer
verses. Thus were the boastful prediations of Na-
poleon at the campaign, literally fulfilled, 'but with
this difference, that not Russia^ but himself ^ jhiurried
away by a fatality, had accomplished hi^. destiny.''
These calamities have had one happy result, by put-
ting an end to a despotic infiuance ;-. they have re-
stored to Europe her Ifterty, and to Fmnce her hap-
piness.

END OF THE NARIUTIVE.

7

,J ■'s^ ' * Digitized by VjOOQIC

rriNERART

K^the march of the fourth corps in the Russian Terri"
tortfj during the Campaign of 1812. . -

1 July, 1812, from PUonj to Kroni - 2

,5 — — Melangani - - - - 7

3 RouicoDtoui - - - - 6

4 New-Troki - - - - 3

5 — - HAlted.

S Ditto.

7 Rudniki - - . - - 6

8 ■■ Paradomlu ^ - - - 3

9 -•— Halted.

10 — r- Paulovo . - . - 4

(At the castle of the count of Choiseuil.)

Jl — — O^miana - - - - 6 1-4

12 Smoi^how " - «■ - 8

13 Halted.

14 From Smorghoni to Zachkevitschi 3 1-4 -

J5 _ Vileika ... - 8

10 Ko^enevitschi . - » 6

Carried over, 62 U2

The emperor Napoleon pa«*ed tlie Niemen jit Kowno, the 24th June ; the
^SSd, being at Wilkowiski, he declared war agahist Uiissia. The fourth
^orps, commanded by the viceroy of Italy, passed the Niemen at Pilony ; the
advanced-guard efiected its passage the 29th ; but the prince and the
fifteenth division paAed on the 1st 'Jfuly. On the 28th Napoleon ^v.is ai

Digitized by VjOOQIC

ITINERARY.

Brought over, 62 1-2

|7 July, Dolglunp^ - - . - 4 1-2

18 Dokzice .- - • * - 7

|9 — Haked.

20 — Berezino * ^ - - 6 1-2

21 — Pouichna, or Oloubokoe * 6 1-2
42 — • Kamen - - - - - 6

tS — Botscheikovo - - • 3 3-4

24 —— From Smorghoni to Bezenkovitschi 4

25 — — Sontza(31eag'sonthissideOstrowno) 4 1-2

26 — — Combat (bivouac at small casde Do-

- brijka • - . - • 5 1-2

27 •;— Bivouac before Witepsk - - 2 1-2

28 Bivouac at Aghapdnovchtchina - 6 1-2

29 Sourai . . ^ - . - 6

SO Halted.

1 August, ditto.

2 Ditto.

3- Ditto.

4 — Ditto.

6 Ditto.

6 Ditto.

7 Ditto.

8 Ditto.

9 From SauraJ to Janowitschi - 4

10 Halted. '

11 Velechkovitschi - . ^ 3 1-2

•12 iiiozna - - . - -^ 2 1-2

13 — — Liouvavitschi - * m 5 1-4

14 — — Rasasna - • ^ j^ • 4

Cairied over, 143

Diglzed by Google

mf^

ITINERARY. 949

Brought over, 143
15 August Siniaki - - r 7 1*4

16 Katova - - • r 3

1 7 — — Bivouac (at a league from Korouitnia) &

18 Bivauac(nearthecAiit^a2i&drNoyoi4vor)5

J 9 Suburb of Smolensk r - 11-2

20 -: — Passed the Nieper (bivcmxi f^bove

Smolensk) - - • 1-2

21 — — Bivouac some place.
2?- Ditto.

23 — ~ Nolodimerowa • • '^^ 5

24 Pologhi . . - *• 7 1-2

25 Zaz^!6 ■ p ^ • 5 1.2

26 Mikailovskoe r - -. 7 1-2

27 Agopochina (passed the Niemen at

Blaghov) - - - 4 1-2

28 Bivouac (round a chateau a league be^

yondBereski) - - - 4

29 From Agopochina to P^ovoe ^ 9

30 Halted.

31 — ^ — Pokrpn - - - g 3^

1 September Paulova - - - 6 1-3

2 Woremiewo y . ^ - 2

3 Halted.

4 ■ Louzos - - , - ^ 5 1^2

* Encamped on the heights of Borodino 4

6 Ditto.

7 Battle.

8 -r-r Quspenskof, or Krasnos - 3 1-4

Carried over, 236 1-4

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mo rriNERART.

Veagau,

Biou^t over, 236 1-4

9 September Rouza - - > -6 1-4
10 .1— Halted.

11 Aipalchtchouin» - - - 4 1-2

12 Zwenighoiod - - 3 1-2

IS Bazaievo - - - 6 1-2

14 — . lOiorechero - - 4 3«4

-16 — — Moscow , . - - 2

Total from P'Aony to Moscow ^ 263 3^

Stopped in this city from 15th Sept until
48 October, Village on the road from Kalouga,
a league from Moscow - - 1
19 — — Little vlUage^nearBatoutinka bivouac 5

20 Inatowo - - - 7 1-2

21 Fominskoe - - - S

22 Halted.

23 — From Fominskoe to a vOlage half a

league beyond Borovsk bivouac 7 1-4

24 — — Battle of Malo- Jaroslavitz. Bivouac 4 3-4
25 Halted.

26 — — Ouvamvskoe bivouac • - 4

27 Alfar^va - . ,, . ^4 1-2

28 — Village a league beyond Borisov, sup-
posed to be MitJaeva - - 2 1-2

29 Ouspenskoe, called Krasno« bivouac 6 1-2

30 — — Village half a league on the right of the
road between Kolotskoi and Pipkofevo
bivouac » - - - 6

Carried over, 61

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mNERART. ^t

• Leagues.

Brought over, 61
31 October Ghiat bivouac -r * - 8 1-4

1 November Near VeUtcbevo bivouac - 5

2 '■ Fcederovdcoe bivouac - - & 1-4

3 — — Battle of Viazma, bivouac half a league

further - . - • - - 3 1-2

4 — — Rouibki, a league beyond Semlevo 7

6 - — Jolkov Postoifa Door - - 3 l-2t w*-

6 — — ^ Doroghoboui bivouac - . - 6

7 -— From Fominskoe to Zaz^lc bivouac 7

8 — — Sloboda bivouac - - 4

9 — — From Sloboda passed the Wop, bivou-

acked at a little village, half a league
from this river r- - - . 1

10 — ~ Doukhovchtchina . - 4 1-2

11 — Halted.

12 — ^— Wolodimerowa bivouac - 6 3-4
•13 Siaolensko - - • - 6 1-4

14 Halted.

15 Hamlet three leagues from Smolensko^

supposed to be Loubna - * - 3 1-2
16-— Krasnoe - - - - - 7

17 Liadoui - - - - 1 1-2

18 Dowbrowna - - - 8

IQ^ — Orcha - - - . 4

20 Halted.

21 Half a league before Kokhanovo bi^,

vouac , • - - 5

22 Bivouac round a castle, half a league

this side Toloschin - 5

Csffried over 15§

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JB2 mNERARY.

.' «; '9 couunaoder oi ]55
23 November Bivonac thri ^ irom To-

loschin near Jabl^u. - 4

24 Bobr ..'*.. 4

25 — Little village, five leagues from Bobr
where there is an insulated churchy
bivouac - - - - 6 1-^

26 «— — From a village at Nemonitsa, to two
and a half leagues on this side Bori*
80V, bivouac • - - 5 1-2

27 -— ' Studzianca, passage of the Beresina,

bivouac - - - - 4 1-2

28 Zembin, bivouac, - - 4 1-2

29 Kamen, 3 1-4

30 ■ Niestanovitschi, near Zavichino, 6
1 December, Ufea - - - - 4 1-2

2 Molodetschino ... 6

3 Halted.

4 •-— ^Village supposed to beMarkovobivouac?
6-— Smorghoni - - - - 4 1-4

6 — — Joupranoui ... - 6

7 — — Rovno-Pole bivouac - - 5

8 — Roukoni bivouac - - 5 1-2
9 WUna - - - - 3

10 Ev* bivouac - - - 10

11 — Zismori - . ^ - 6

12—- ^Kowno .... 10

Total 256 1-2

From Niemen to Moscow 263 3-4
Total 520 1-4

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' ' •'MX^coionel, ditt/**. LIST
'>er Lapage

OfaUtke Persani^?^^. ^^ ^^i^ m this warky tuiih their
Ranky during me Campaign in Russia.

NAPOLEOIf. -

Jerome Bonaparte, Kine qf Wesi^thalia, commander of the 8th corps.

Joachim Mujrat, king of mples, commander of all the cctvalry.

Eugene de Beaubarnois, viceroy of Italy, commandeer of the 4th corps.

Bertbier, prince of Neufchatel andof Wagram, major general.

Davoust, prince of Eckrauhl, commander of 1st corps.

Oudinot, duke of Reggio, do. 2d.

Ney, duke of Elchingen, do. 3d. prince of Moskwa.

Prince^Poniatowskii do. 5th.

Marshal coutft St. Cyr, do. 6th.

General count Regnier, do. 7th.

Junot, duke of Abrantes, do. 8th.

Victor, duke of BellunOf do. 9tb.

DukeofTarentum, do. 10th.

Prince Schwartzenberg, commander of the Austrian auxiliary corps.

Bessieres, dukeof Istria, commander of the cavalry of the guard.

Caulincourt, duke of Vicenza, general of division, grand ecuyer.

Duroc, duke of Frioul, general, grand marshal of the palace.

Count Rapp, do. ? aids-de-camp to the

Count Lauriston, do. ) emperor.

Count Lefebre Desnouettes, general of divisioh, colonel of the horse

chasseurs of the guard.-*^
Count Friant, general of division, ccJonel •( the grenadiers of the.

foot guards. '
Count Nansouty, ^

Count Grouchy, \ Commanders of cavalry corps, f

Count Montbrun, j

General Dessoles, chief of the viceroy's staff.
Count Danthouard, commander of tlie artillery of the 4th corps. .
Count Eble, general of division of artillery, commander of the bridge

equipages.
Count Gudin, ^^ -v »

Baron Gerard, }/^^ \. f

Count I>essaix, \ Generals of division— 1st corps.

Count Compans, i

Count Morand, J

Count Verdier, \

Count Legrand, > General^ of diviiion'— 2d corps.

Baron Merle, S

45

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S64 U8T OF NAM£S.

Baron Lednit, commander of a division — 3d corpt.

Count of Claparede, general of divisioiL commander o/* the lecion of

the Vistula- ^"^"''

Baron Delsoos, \ mr-^fZ

Count Brousuer, \ Generals oTdivision— 4tb corpa.

Count Pino, 5

Baron Wrede, \

General de R07, \ BaTarian generals— 6th corpa.

General Sierbein )

Count Parthonneaux. >^ . r j- • • mi.
Baron Girard, ^ j Generals of dmsion-9th corpa.

Baron Graodjean, commander of a di?bion — 10th corps.
S^SSE"' |P™«iange«eral»-IOIhcorps.

' Count Cbarpentier, general of division, governor of Smolensko.
Count Baraguej d'Hilliers, general of division.
Count Loison, commander 01 a division, from Koningsberg.
General Dombrowski, commander of a Polish division.
Count Sanson, general of division, chief of the topographical bureau*
Baron Haxo, general of division of engineers.
Count Sebastian!, ^

Baron Laboussaje, k

Count Brujeres, \ Generals of division of cavalry.

Bar6n de St. Germain, i

Baron Doumerc, / *

Count Prejssing, commander of a division of light Bavarian cavalry^
Prince Czartorjski, grand marshal of the diet of Warsaw.
Count Me jean, counsellor of state of the kingdom of Italy, and sec*

retarj of the viceroy.
General Poitevin (baron Maureillan,) commander of the engineers of

the 4 th corps.
Baron Aubrey, commander of artillery pf 2d corps.

GBNERAX.d OF BRIGADE.

Barons Ricard, Roussel, Huard, Plausanne, Bonami, Nagle, Auge<
reau, Marion, Compere, Villata, Fontane, Levie, Chastel, Berk-
heim, Colbert, Castex, Saint Geniez, Aux. Caulincourt, Pajol^
Guyon.

Pouget, general of brigade, governor of Witepsk.

Lecchi, ditto ditto commander of the Italian guard.

Lepel, aid<^-camp to the king of Westphalia.

D'Hery , aid-de-camp to the king of Naples.

Klengel, general in the Saxon service.

General iomini, governor of Orcha.

Baron Trjaire, general of brigade, aid-dc^camp to the viceroy.

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I;I6T OF NilfES ' 365

'Baron Gifflenge> general of brigade, aid-de-caxnp to the viceroy.
IBaron Lacroix, colonel, ditto.
Count Louis Tascher Lapagerie, ^

— SH^ce M^r" ( ^'^'"^'^ «^ «»-'^--
■ Jules Desseve, ^ y

Colonel Delfanti, officer of the ordnance of the viceroy.

Andre Comer, lieutenant, ditto.

Liedot, colonel of engineers.

MarbcBuf, colonel of4ancers.

Kliski, Polish colonel, with the viceroj.

Radzivil, colonel of the 8th Polish Hulans.

Durieu, adjutant commander, sub-chief of the staff of the 4th corpc..

Dfi Bouripont, ^

Asselin, > Adjutant commanders attached to this staff.

Forestier, , )

Colonel Grosbon, of the 53d regiment.

— ^— Battaglia, comm9nder of the Italian guards of honour.

■ Vidmann, commander of the company of the Venetian guards

of huaour.

p— Demay, commander of the artillery of the 13th division.

Banco, of the horse-chasseurs.

Rambourg, of the 3d ditto.

D^Oreille, major of the Spanish regiment Joseph Napoleon.

Vives, major of artillery.

Colaud, chief of battaiion, waggon-roaster-general of the 4th corps.

Seiinitige, ditto, attached to the staff.

Boutarel, caj^dfa, of horse -chasseur?, adjutant of the palais royal of

Monza. ^^

Trezel, captain, aid-de<ailfpOi general Guilleminot.
Maisonneure, ^

Jouare, \ Assistant captains of the staff of the 4th corps,

Evrard, )

Morlaincourt, captain of engineers to the 4th division.
Bonardelle, captain of artillery.

FllTJ-t^^'''' I Officers of hussars.

Bardoni, } Lieutenants in the Italian guards of

Idastini, ) honour.

faint Marcellin de Fontanes, attached to the staff of the 4tb corps,
^esseps, French consul at Moscow.

VjUeblanche, auditor of the council of state, intendant of Smpr
lensko.

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856 UST OF NAMES.

ALEXANDER I. empefor of Russia.

Grand duke Coostantine.

Prince Kutusoff, compaander-ii>-chief of the Rusaian ^jr«

Barclaj de Tolly, commaoder-ia-chief before the arrival of prince

Kutusoff.
Prince Wittgensteio, conoDaander of the 1st Rusaiao Qorps*

Bagawout, de. 2d do.

Sc^moaloff, do. 3d do.

r ^ ^u ' Tutsehkoflf, do. 4th do.

uenerajs ^ Prince Bagratioo, do. 6lh* do. '

)

Doctorrow, do. 6th do.

Tormasow, do. 7lh do.

Admiral TschikakufiT, commander of the army of the Danube*
Platoff, Hetman of the Cossacks.
Platoff, son.

Orlow Dennisowy general of the adranced-guard.
Kamenskiy \

Prfpl m

t»^ • > Generals commanders in Volhynia.

Marcou, y r

Repnin, > Generals conrnianders in the corps of prince Wjl^

Steogely \ genstein. * ^

Lambert, commanding a division of the army of the Danube.

Sicverse, general, employed in the second army of the West. ^

Ostermann^ n '

Bennigsen, / \.

Skallon, \ Generals employed in Jhe centre of the Russian army:

Ouvaronr, L *'

Balla, J

Koulmew, general of light cavalry.

Koff, general of cavaliy.

Hiloradowitch, commauder-general of the advanced-guard of prince

Kutusoff.
Archbishop Platon.
Bishop Augustin, vicar of Moscow.
Rostopchin> « *\
Momonoff, #

Orlow, > Nobles of Moscow.

Saltikoff C

Sherimitow, J

* Second corps, called the army of the west.

THE END.

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- 1932

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